One Killed as Suspected Herders Attack Ondo Community in Benue

Benue State – Suspected armed herders attacked an Ondo community in the Ogboju District of Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State on Tuesday morning, killing one person and forcing residents to flee to a neighbouring community for safety.

A resident of the Ondo community, who identified himself only as Sunny, told journalists by telephone that the assailants stormed the community around 6 a.m., shooting sporadically and forcing villagers to seek refuge in Oyangede.

The attack is the latest in a series of similar incidents in Benue State, where farming communities have repeatedly reported violent clashes with suspected herders over grazing routes and land use in recent months.

Security agencies have not yet issued an official statement on the attack, though residents say they expect a security deployment to the area following the latest incident, which they described as part of a troubling pattern.

Local leaders have renewed calls for stronger security presence in rural farming communities across Benue, arguing that recurring attacks have disrupted agricultural activity and displaced residents in affected local government areas.

Benue State Government has in the past pledged to address the recurring clashes through dialogue and security deployment, though communities in the affected areas say attacks have continued despite previous assurances.