11 people were killed in a Christmas Day attack by suspected herdsmen in Benue State’s Mkomon district, with several others missing.

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]t least 11 people were killed on Wednesday, December 25, when suspected herdsmen invaded several communities in the Mkomon district of Kwande Local Government Area (LGA), Benue State.

The attack took place while residents were celebrating Christmas, with many caught off guard as they enjoyed the festive season.

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Terlumun, a resident of the affected area, described the attack as brutal, stating, “The terrorist herders came this afternoon when the people were celebrating Christmas, invading our communities, killing people, and burning houses.”

The targeted communities—Ityuluv, Tse Azege, and Innyiev ya—were left in shock and grief as the attackers wreaked havoc.

Following the attack, the President-General of the Tiv socio-cultural group, Mdzough U Tiv Worldwide, Iorbee Ihagh, confirmed the deaths, adding that several people were still missing.

“11 people were killed in the Christmas day attack on Mkomon district of Turan in Kwande LG. Some are still missing as I speak to you now,” Ihagh said during a phone conversation.

The attack, attributed to Fulani herdsmen, has raised concerns about the ongoing security challenges in the region.

Ihagh noted that some council wards in the LGA, particularly the Moon council ward, had long been abandoned due to similar attacks by the herders.

Authorities have called for increased security in the region. Ihagh appealed to Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia and President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action to enhance security and protect the residents from further violence.

Joseph Har, the Governor’s Security Adviser on Internal Affairs and Security, confirmed the attack but referred the matter to the Director-General on Security, Gbamuam Jacob, for further details. However, efforts to reach Jacob were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.

The Benue State Police Command’s spokesperson, Catherine Anene, said she had not yet received any formal reports on the incident. “I’m yet to receive a report about that,” she said.

The attack in Mkomon district adds to the ongoing security crisis in parts of Benue State, where clashes between farmers and herders have resulted in numerous fatalities and displacement of communities in recent years.

As residents cope with the aftermath of this devastating attack, the call for stronger security measures continues to grow.