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Residents of Guma Local Government Area in Benue State have sounded the alarm over escalating insecurity, accusing armed herders of openly grazing with sophisticated weapons and occupying parts of the area in violation of the state’s anti-open grazing law.
Community accounts claim that the entire Ndzororov Council Ward has been deserted by its inhabitants following what they describe as an overrun by armed herders. Locals report multiple killings linked to the occupation, including the shooting death of a woman identified as the wife of a local resident in the early hours of Sunday, January 18, 2026—exactly one year after her husband was allegedly slaughtered by the same group of armed herders during a previous attack.
The tragic incident, described by residents as a “black Sunday,” has intensified grief and fear across affected communities. The woman’s killing has renewed accusations that the perpetrators have returned to target the same family, heightening tensions and prompting widespread calls for immediate security intervention.
Security sources and community leaders point to a reported high influx of armed herders into Benue State, allegedly under the guise of grazing activities, despite the existing Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law. They warn that the continued presence and movement of such armed groups in rural areas represent a grave and ongoing threat to lives, farmlands, and property across the state.
The latest violence in Guma comes amid a broader surge in attacks attributed to armed herders in parts of Benue, particularly in Guma and Kwande Local Government Areas. On Saturday, January 17, 2026, two Nigerian military officers were reportedly ambushed and killed in Kwande LGA in an incident locals also blamed on armed Fulani assailants.
As panic spreads in the affected communities, residents are urgently appealing to both the federal and Benue State governments, along with relevant security agencies, to take decisive action. Demands include the strict enforcement of the state’s anti-open grazing law, the deployment of adequate security forces to restore order, and measures to prevent further loss of innocent lives.
The recurring attacks have once again spotlighted the persistent farmer-herder conflict in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, where communities continue to bear the brunt of violence despite repeated promises of intervention. With displaced families fleeing their homes and fear gripping rural areas, stakeholders insist that sustained and coordinated efforts are needed to address the root causes of insecurity and protect vulnerable populations in Benue State.
