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At least one resident was killed when suspected herdsmen bandits launched a coordinated attack on the villages of Olojo, Ojantelle, and Edikwu Icho in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State on Sunday, February 22, 2026.
Security sources reported that the assailants struck around 1:45 p.m., firing sporadically into the communities and causing widespread panic among residents. The sudden gunfire sent villagers fleeing for safety as the attackers moved through the affected areas.
Troops from nearby tactical units and military detachments responded swiftly to the distress, engaging the bandits in a fierce gun duel. The confrontation forced the attackers to retreat into surrounding bushes, abandoning their initial positions.
During the raid, one civilian—identified as Ngbede Okpe Agabaidu, a resident of Edikwu Icho—was fatally shot. His body was later recovered and taken to a local mortuary for preservation and autopsy procedures.
Military authorities have since intensified operations in the area. Aerial surveillance has been deployed to monitor movements, while ground forces continue combing the surrounding bushes and farmlands in pursuit of the fleeing assailants. The goal is to locate, apprehend, or neutralize the perpetrators responsible for the deadly incursion.
The attack adds to the persistent cycle of farmer-herder clashes and banditry that has plagued parts of Benue State, particularly in Apa and neighboring local government areas along volatile border zones. Residents have repeatedly called for stronger security presence and proactive measures to prevent such raids, which often result in loss of lives, destruction of property, and displacement.
No group has claimed responsibility for the February 22 incident as of the latest reports, and investigations are ongoing to establish the motive and identity of the attackers. Community leaders and local authorities have urged calm while appealing for enhanced protection from both state and federal security agencies to avert further bloodshed in the region.
