Residents flee as suspected armed herders intensify assaults in Kwande LGA

A soldier and an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been killed in a fresh attack by suspected armed herders in Udeku community, Turan district of Kwande Local Government Area, Benue State.

The incident was confirmed by a community leader, Mr. Lawrence Akerigba, who said the attack has forced residents to flee the area, bringing all economic and social activities to a standstill.

According to reports, the slain security personnel were among officers deployed to the community to help maintain peace amid persistent attacks by suspected armed herders. They were reportedly returning from Aga Market on a motorcycle to refill their cooking gas when they encountered a roadblock mounted by the assailants.

A source disclosed that the officers were unaware of the ongoing attack in the area when they ran into the armed group, who opened fire on them, killing them instantly.

Following the incident, youths in the community reportedly mobilised, combed nearby forests, and recovered the charred remains of the deceased officers. Their bodies were later deposited at the mortuary in Jato Aka.

In a related development, suspected herders were said to have invaded the same area last week, killing five farmers.

Confirming the attack, a security source identified as Ejelikwu stated that at about 3:00 p.m. on January 10, 2026, Fulani militias attacked three security personnel attached to Operation Whirl Stroke, killing two of them.

The NSCDC spokesperson identified one of the deceased as Chief Corps Assistant (CCA) Tijani Idris, with service number 76691, from the Kaduna State Command, who was seconded to the Operation Whirl Stroke Joint Task Force.

Meanwhile, concerns have been raised over a resurgence of attacks on farmers and security operatives in parts of Benue following recent security operations against insurgent groups in northern Nigeria.

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