Suspected armed herdsmen launched an attack on Akpete community in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State on February 6, 2026. The assailants first struck around noon, but local youths resisted and forced them to retreat. However the attackers returned in larger numbers at about 6 p.m. and moved house to house, targeting residents.
Residents fled as gunfire erupted, leading to chaos in the village. A similar assault occurred around the same time in nearby Edikwu community, but security forces repelled it.
Victims and Injuries Reported
Attackers killed two residents in Akpete during the evening raid. Matthew Ochanga returned home briefly to collect belongings when assailants shot him and set his motorcycle ablaze. Isaac Adanu died nearby in the same assault.
Several others sustained severe injuries amid the violence. Many residents went missing as panic spread, with villages left deserted.
Security Forces Respond
Operatives from the Benue State Police Command’s Rapid Response Squad intervened in Edikwu Icho and repelled the attackers.
Udeme Edet, spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, stated, “The attack was repelled through the efforts of operatives of the Benue State Police Command attached to the Rapid Response Squad. The general security situation in Apa Local Government Area remains calm.”
Adams Ocheiga, chairman of Apa Local Government Area, confirmed that soldiers and youths chased the assailants from Edikwu. He added, “Security operations had been intensified in the affected areas to forestall a repeat of the incident.”
Meanwhile police reconstructed a bridge linking several communities in Apa, which suspected herdsmen had destroyed earlier, under heavy security.
Community Voices Frustration
A local source expressed exhaustion over repeated attacks. The source said, “The truth is that we are tired of these attacks. Many of our villages have been deserted. They want to take over our ancestral land. Our people can no longer go to their farms to produce food, and we have become helpless.”
In a related operation, police arrested suspect Saamoga, also known as Aleki, in Ukum Local Government Area while he transported ammunition. He sustained injuries during the arrest and later died in hospital.
In conclusion, Ifeanyi Emenari, commissioner of the Benue State Police, commended officers and urged residents to provide information for crime prevention.
