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The tranquil rural community of Oglewu in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State was plunged into horror in the early hours of Tuesday, November 4, 2025, as suspected armed herdsmen unleashed a devastating attack. Gunfire echoed through the night, followed by the roar of flames as a Catholic church—where terrified villagers had sought refuge—was set ablaze and reduced to rubble.
Witnesses recounted how the assailants stormed the community under the cover of darkness, shooting indiscriminately and burning homes, farms, and places of worship. The Catholic parish, a safe haven for those fleeing the violence, became a focal point of the destruction. Many who had crowded inside for protection are now among the missing, with locals dreading a grim body count once the full extent of the carnage is known.
Survivors, some bearing gunshot wounds and burns, fled in droves to nearby villages, leaving behind a trail of abandoned homes and smoldering ruins. The air in Oglewu remains thick with grief, fear, and uncertainty.
Security forces have been dispatched to the area, but as of 11:10 PM on the day of the incident, no official statement had been issued by state or federal authorities. This delay has intensified public outrage and amplified demands for immediate and decisive government action to curb the worsening insecurity in Benue’s countryside.
This attack is the latest chapter in a long-running saga of farmer-herder clashes that have claimed thousands of lives across Nigeria’s Middle Belt. What makes this incident particularly heartbreaking is the deliberate targeting of a house of worship—a sacred space turned sanctuary, now ashes.
For the people of Oglewu, the loss goes beyond buildings and lives. It is a blow to their faith, their sense of safety, and their hope for peace. As the community mourns and the nation watches, one urgent question hangs in the air: when will the cycle of violence finally be broken?
