Fresh tragedies in Plateau, Benue, Adamawa as over 150 killed in Herdsmen, Boko Haram attacks

Nigeria has been plunged into fresh grief as at least 144 people have been killed in the last two weeks in Plateau and Benue states by suspected herdsmen, while Boko Haram insurgents launched a deadly attack in Adamawa, killing seven more and leaving several missing.

In Plateau State, 104 lives were lost, with 52 victims in Bassa Local Government Area (LGA) and another 52 in Bokkos LGA. Benue State also witnessed a series of deadly assaults, leaving at least 40 dead. The most recent occurred on Tuesday when 13 people were killed in Otobi Akpa community, Otukpo LGA. The attack, carried out by over 20 armed herders, saw the community invaded in a coordinated ambush. Victims were shot or butchered, and over 50 houses were set ablaze. Many residents are still unaccounted for.

Tragically, many local vigilantes had left the town for a burial in a nearby village, leaving the community defenceless. Survivors described scenes of horror, including victims being cut with machetes and their brains spilled on the ground.

Locals believe the attack was a retaliation for the enforcement of anti-open grazing laws. A community elder, Adikwu Ogbe, decried the breakdown in peaceful coexistence with herders, lamenting that armed herdsmen now openly threaten locals.

In response to the persistent violence, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has banned night grazing and transportation of cattle by vehicles after 7:00 pm. Motorcycle movement has also been restricted from 7:00 pm to 6:00 am across the state. In a state broadcast, the governor described the violence as systematic and premeditated, vowing that the bloodshed must end.

Meanwhile, Adamawa State also came under siege as Boko Haram insurgents attacked Banga and Larh communities in Hong LGA on Tuesday, killing seven people. The attackers detonated explosives, destroyed a police van, and caused chaos that left scores missing. A vigilante was among those killed in a bomb blast while attempting to secure the area.

Community members, including eyewitnesses, described the attack as swift and terrifying, with residents fleeing in all directions. The chairman of Hong LGA, Waang Inuwa, confirmed the assault and called for greater military presence in the area.

The attacks have drawn strong condemnation from national figures. Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, urged President Bola Tinubu to abandon his retreat in France and return to Nigeria to address the worsening security situation.

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, also called on the federal government to implement the grazing ban and ensure the Nigerian Army and Police restore law and order in the affected states.

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) described the killings as a national disgrace. In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Prof. Abubakar Jika Jiddere, the group lamented the descent of Plateau State into lawlessness and demanded urgent deployment of security forces, compensation for victims, and the establishment of an independent investigative panel.

As many flee their homes and communities become ghost towns, the cry for justice, safety, and peace grows louder. The blood of innocent Nigerians continues to flow, and the nation watches—still searching for a solution.