Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen on the night of Wednesday, 21 May, 2025 killed at least one soldier and dozen others during an hours-long attack in Ikobi-Ochekwu community in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State
It was gathered the fully armed attackers reportedly stormed the community under the cover of darkness, unleashing sporadic gunfire and setting homes ablaze in a siege that lasted for several hours.
“The attackers stormed the village under the cover of darkness, shooting sporadically at residents and setting houses ablaze,” a resident, Ochofie, who witnessed the incident, said.
The full casualty count remains uncertain as many residents are still unaccounted for. However, local sources revealed that among the victims was a soldier who was said to have recently tied the knot.
“In the early hours of Thursday, two more bodies were discovered in nearby Ijaha, identified as Sani Ngbede and Aduba Paul Ogboyi,” a source said. As at the time of filing this report, Benue State Police Command has yet to comment on the development.
