In the aftermath of fresh, deadly assaults allegedly carried out by suspected armed herders, authorities in Benue State, in collaboration with the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, have commenced documentation of churches affected by the escalating violence.
The PUNCH reported that the most recent wave of bloodshed on Sunday night claimed the lives of at least 43 people across two Local Government Areas, Gwer West and Apa.
On Monday, the PFN State Chairman, Bishop Timothy Kume, disclosed that the process of collating data on impacted churches is underway, with official figures expected later in the week.
“It’s not that I don’t have the figure but the one I have is old as you know the attack is happening nearly every day.
“For instance, the Sunday attack on Naka, headquarters of Gwer West LG, affected one pastor; he was killed in the attack,” Bishop Kume stated.
This latest incident follows closely on the heels of an earlier assault in Gwer West just a week prior, in which 42 individuals—including a mobile police officer—lost their lives.
Eyewitness accounts detail how the attackers descended on Tse Antswam, a community near Naka, at approximately 7 p.m., indiscriminately firing on residents and causing heavy casualties.
In a simultaneous assault, the Edikwu Ankpali community in Apa LGA also came under siege. A local resident named Tony recounted, “Over 25 people at Edikwu Ankpali, in Apa LG, were killed yesterday (Sunday) and the corpses will be buried soon.”
Providing further details on the Gwer West attack, Ter Nagi, Chief Daniel Abomtse, shared a grim picture of the violence.
“As I am talking to you now, 18 corpses have been recovered and many people sustained varying degrees of injuries.
“In fact, the way some people were butchered, I doubt if they will survive. Search is still ongoing because many ran into the bush with gun wounds and some also entered the well to escape the attack,” he said.
Notably, the affected village is situated just across from a military checkpoint along the Naka/Makurdi Road, raising concerns over the assailants’ boldness.
Gwer West LG Chairman Victor Ormini expressed his despair over the recurring violence, saying, “I am tired of granting interviews to journalists. It was exactly a week ago today that I spoke with you about the killing of over 40 people, including a mobile police officer, at Aondona and other communities by herdsmen.
“Instead of abating, it’s getting worse. The same herdsmen attacked again, this time at Naka town. As of now, over 14 corpses have been recovered.”
Meanwhile, Apa LG Chairman Adams Ocheiga confirmed he was en route to the scene of the attack for an assessment when contacted by The PUNCH.
Police authorities in the state also acknowledged the attacks. State command spokesperson Udeme Edet said, “This is to confirm that there was an attack yesterday at Naka and Apa and to let you know that tactical teams have been deployed and are already on the ground and are on top of the situation.
“I will get back to you after obtaining further and accurate information.”
Religious institutions have not been spared in the spate of violence. The Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association, Makurdi Diocese, revealed that no fewer than 15 Catholic churches have closed their doors due to security threats. Benue State is home to four Catholic dioceses: Makurdi, Gboko, Katsina-Ala, and Otukpo.
Vice Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Benue State chapter, Ugbede Jonathan, said that while CAN had not compiled a unified list, each of the five blocs under the association had information on their affected members and churches.
