MAJOR MARKET ATTACK IN BENUE STATE DOZENS DEAD

MAJOR MARKET ATTACK IN BENUE STATE DOZENS DEAD
At least 16 to 17 people have been killed following a violent attack by suspected armed herdsmen / terrorists on a busy market in Abande settlement, Mbaikyor Ward, Turan, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State on Tuesday afternoon while traders and buyers were conducting business. Eyewitnesses said the assailants stormed the Abande market, opening fire on civilians, killing scores, looting shops, and setting parts of the marketplace ablaze as residents scrambled for safety. Community leaders and residents reported at least 17 people killed, including villagers and a Mobile Police (MOPOL) officer who was on duty at the time of the attack.
Some reports mentioned more than 16 civilians killed before the officer fell in the ensuing violence.
Bodies of some victims were recovered late Tuesday and transported by security personnel to the Jato-Aka mortuary.
The range in casualty figures reflects conflicting tallies between eyewitness accounts and official security statements.
Residents described a brutal raid in which the attackers:
Arrived during peak market activity;
Opened fire indiscriminately on traders and buyers;
Looted shops and took cash and goods worth millions of naira;
Set fire to market stalls and nearby homes.
Lawrence Akerigba, a community leader and former councillor, said the assault forced many residents to flee their homes in fear, heightening insecurity in Turan and neighbouring communities.
The Benue State Police Command confirmed the attack and said it had deployed combined teams of police and security to the area to restore order and pursue the perpetrators.
However, the police reported a lower casualty figure, indicating four community members and one police officer killed during clashes after responding to distress calls. Governor Hyacinth Alia strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a cowardly act of terror against innocent civilians and a challenge to the region’s security. He ordered a manhunt for the perpetrators and directed security agencies to intensify operations to bring attackers to justice and restore safety. The governor also expressed condolences to the families of the victims and assured citizens that steps were being taken to protect lives and property. Residents said the attack has had devastating effects: Shops and livelihoods destroyed; Traders and families terrified to return; Many residents displaced into nearby bushes and neighbouring areas to escape further violence.
The latest incident highlights a broader security crisis affecting Benue’s rural communities, where similar attacks by armed herdsmen or militant groups have repeatedly occurred, particularly along border and agricultural zones.