Suspected armed herdsmen killed at least 11 people and razed over 25 houses in a brutal attack on the Agana and Mbatsaida communities of Benue State, leaving survivors and grieving families in a state of total displacement
Residents of the Agana and Mbatsaida communities in Benue State are struggling to cope with the aftermath of a devastating attack by suspected armed herdsmen that left at least 11 people dead and over 25 homes razed to the ground. The assault, which occurred on April 4, 2026, saw gunmen storm the settlements under the cover of darkness, shooting sporadically and setting fire to residential structures. The violence forced hundreds of villagers to flee into nearby bushes, many of whom remain displaced as the security situation in the region continues to deteriorate. Survivors who returned to the charred remains of their villages over the weekend described a coordinated campaign of destruction that has left local families in a state of profound psychological and physical trauma.
The human toll of the massacre was personified by the tragic account of 80-year-old Gizan Torngila, who lost three of her adult children in the single night of violence. Speaking to SaharaReporters during a visit to the affected area, the distraught octogenarian described the incident as the most painful moment of her long life, noting that she is now left with only six of her nine children. “I am sad because at this my old age, losing three children at once in one attack is not easy. I can’t eat and I can’t even sleep. It is a terrible moment for me,” Torngila stated. She further revealed that the April 4 raid was only the latest in a series of incursions that have plagued the community, leaving the elderly and vulnerable at the mercy of marauding gunmen.
Local leaders have expressed deep frustration over the perceived inability of security agencies to stem the tide of perennial violence between agrarian communities and armed herder groups in Benue’s hinterlands. Despite previous military interventions, the vulnerability of remote settlements like Mbatsaida remains high, as evidenced by the unhindered nature of the most recent house-burnings. “I can’t even use words to express how sad I am presently. I am 80 years old now. I gave birth to nine children in total but only six remain; three were killed in this recent attack,” Torngila added, reflecting the sentiment of a community that feels increasingly abandoned. As of April 14, 2026, state authorities have yet to confirm any arrests in connection with the massacre.
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