Suspected herders kill 14 in Benue community

A deadly attack by suspected armed herders on a community in central Nigeria has left at least 14 people dead and sparked renewed fears over a cycle of violence in the region. The assault occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in the Efeyi community of the Ugboju District, within the Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.

According to local officials and residents, the attackers stormed the community around 5 a.m., firing indiscriminately. The assault lasted for several hours, forcing terrified residents to flee into nearby bushes. Maxwell Ogiri, the chairman of the Otukpo Local Government Area, confirmed the attack and described it as unprovoked. He stated that 14 bodies had been recovered and many others were wounded, with victims receiving treatment at local hospitals. Some residents reported a higher initial toll, but the figure of 14 fatalities was consistently cited by the local chairman.

The attack prompted protests as angry youths conveyed victims' corpses to the palace of the district head, demanding an end to the recurring violence. Residents expressed frustration over a delayed security response, with one anonymous local stating that no security...