Over 16 killed as suspected herdsmen attack Abande community market in Benue

At least 16 persons have reportedly been killed following an attack by suspected armed herdsmen on Abande settlement in Mbaikyor Ward, Turan, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, triggering fresh outrage over the worsening security situation in the area.

Residents said the attack occurred Tuesday afternoon at the Abande market while traders and buyers were conducting business. Witnesses said the assailants stormed the market, opened fire on civilians, looted shops and set parts of the market ablaze.

A community leader and former supervisory councillor in Kwande LGA, Mr. Lawrence Akerigba, alleged that the attackers carted away millions of naira from traders before burning the market.

“Yesterday was Abande market day. People were buying and selling when the herders attacked. They looted shops, took away large sums of money and later set the market on fire. As of 11:55pm, some of the victims’ bodies were conveyed to Jato-Aka by personnel of the Mobile Police Force stationed in the area,” he said.

Akerigba stated that in addition to local residents, “a Mobile Police officer, said to be the unit commander on duty at the time of the attack was also killed,” adding that several residents remain missing and search efforts are ongoing.

He lamented that the assault had forced many to flee and deepened fear in Turan and neighbouring communities. “This attack further proves the worsening security situation in Turan. We have no clear place of refuge or assurance of protection,” he said, recalling that Abande is near Anwase community where over 28 persons were reportedly killed on Christmas Day in 2024.

“Since the beginning of this year, our people have been attacked almost daily. More than 76 people, including security officers, have been killed,” Akerigba alleged. “We are asking; where is the Benue Open Grazing Prohibition Law? Neither the Benue State Government nor the Federal Government is doing enough to protect us.”

He further accused authorities of neglecting border communities, noting Abande lies along the Nigeria–Cameroon border. “We are on an international border with Cameroon. There is no visible presence of either the state or federal government here. On the Nigerian side, the government has refused to construct the road,” he said, contrasting it with security deployment on the Cameroonian side.

Efforts to reach the Chairman of Kwande LGA, Mr. Vitalis Neji, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command confirmed the attack but gave a lower casualty figure.

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, the police said one Mobile Police officer and four community members were killed. “The Benue State Police Command wishes to inform the general public of a violent attack carried out by suspected armed bandits on police personnel and residents of Abande Community, Kwande LGA of Benue State,” the statement read.

The police said the Divisional Police Officer in Jato-Aka received a distress call at about 5:30pm on February 3, 2026, and that during the response, “one Assistant Superintendent of Police attached to 13 Police Mobile Force, Makurdi was fatally injured,” while four residents also died. 

The command said additional operatives and armoured personnel carriers had been deployed, assuring that “all necessary measures are being taken to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice,” though residents insist the official figures understate the scale of the killings.