Amid ongoing deadly raids by suspected armed herders, churches and communities across Benue State are reeling from the aftermath of yet another violent Sunday night, which left over 40 people dead.
Authorities and religious leaders have now begun collating the toll of the violence on places of worship, especially in the hard-hit local government areas of Gwer West and Apa.
Bishop Timothy Kume, Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in Benue State, said the profiling of affected churches is ongoing.
“We are currently gathering data from across the state. It’s not that I don’t have figures, but the ones I have are already outdated,” the cleric explained on Monday. “This attack is becoming a daily tragedy. On Sunday, one of our pastors was among those killed in Naka.”
The attack on Naka, headquarters of Gwer West LGA, was one of the bloodiest in recent months. Armed men believed to be herders stormed the Tse Antswam community at about 7pm, opening fire on residents in what local leaders described as a guerrilla-style onslaught.
Chief Daniel Abomtse, the traditional ruler of Nagi, confirmed the carnage
. “Eighteen bodies have been recovered so far. Many more are injured—some butchered in a way that survival looks uncertain,” he said. “We’re still searching for others; some ran into the bush with gunshot wounds, while others jumped into wells to escape.”
Just across the state, a simultaneous assault occurred in the Edikwu Ankpali area of Apa LGA. A local resident, who identified himself as Tony, painted a grim picture of the attack.
“Over 25 people were killed yesterday (Sunday) in Edikwu Ankpali. We’re preparing for their burial,” he told journalists.
This latest violence follows an earlier incident last week in Gwer West, where at least 42 people, including a mobile police officer, were killed in coordinated attacks across Aondona and surrounding villages.
Local authorities are visibly overwhelmed. Victor Ormini, Chairman of Gwer West LGA, expressed his frustration. “I’m tired of granting interviews. Just a week ago, over 40 people were killed. Today, it’s happened again—this time in Naka. We’ve recovered more than 14 corpses so far,” he said.
In Apa LGA, Council Chairman Adams Ocheiga was en route to the affected areas when contacted. “I’m on my way there now for an assessment,” he said.
While police confirmed the attacks, they did not disclose casualty figures. Benue Police spokesperson, SP Udeme Edet, stated, “Yes, there were attacks in Naka and Apa. Tactical teams are on ground and are working to stabilise the situation. Further details will follow after proper verification.”
The impact on the religious community has been equally severe. The Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association, Makurdi Diocese, reported that 15 churches within the diocese have been shut down due to persistent violence. Benue State has four Catholic dioceses: Makurdi, Gboko, Katsina-Ala, and Otukpo.
Vice Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Benue State, Ugbede Jonathan, acknowledged the widespread damage.
“While CAN doesn’t have a unified statistic, each of our five denominational blocs is keeping track of its affected churches and members,” he said.
Religious leaders warn that if the insecurity continues unchecked, many communities risk not only physical displacement but spiritual collapse.
As Benue continues to bury its dead, the state’s fragile peace is under increasing strain, with calls for federal intervention growing louder by the day.
