January 09, (THEWILL) — Residents of Adogo village in the Ugbaam Council Ward of Ukum Local Government Area, Benue State, have raised an alarm over renewed attacks by suspected armed herdsmen in the early hours of Friday, January 9, 2026.
A community leader in the area, Chief Agbidye Akpa, alleged that armed herders invaded the community and were seen uprooting yam and cassava crops to feed their cattle.
He noted that the ongoing insecurity has forced many who recently attempted to resume farming to flee their ancestral lands once again.
“The situation suggests the state is vulnerable, with no apparent response from the government or security agencies specifically on this issue of the illegal migration of suspected terrorists into parts of the state,” Chief Akpa said.
He urged the Benue State Security Council (BSSC) to reassess its strategies and potentially collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Defence for high-caliber support.
He specifically called for air tactical components to address hideouts in deep forest areas characterized by poor road networks and limited communication.
Chief Akpa warned that without a decisive response, the state should expect further coordinated attacks from herders who are allegedly shielded by actors in neighboring states.
The report follows a separate incident on Wednesday, January 7, where suspected herders reportedly killed at least four people in the Jato-Aka community of Kwande Local Government Area.
Additionally, the Benue State Police Command recently reported a clash between rival cult groups in the same Jato-Aka axis, highlighting a complex security situation in the region.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the Benue State Command, DSP Udeme Edet, could not be reached for comment at the time of filing this report, as calls to her mobile line were not answered.
