At least 17 people were killed and multiple houses burned during an attack on Mbalom community in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State on Easter Sunday. Armed attackers invaded the village, setting homes on fire and fleeing shortly after, leaving behind destruction and bodies, according to local residents. Many people remain unaccounted for, with search efforts ongoing. A resident described the incident as "heartbreaking," noting that most victims were caught off guard.
Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the violence in a statement issued Sunday, calling the attack "heinous" and unacceptable. The statement, signed by Chief Press Secretary Tersoo Kula, conveyed the governor's sympathy to bereaved families and promised that security agencies would identify and apprehend the perpetrators. Alia cited a pattern of "calculated and selective attacks" in parts of the state and said additional security measures would be deployed. He praised the response of security forces and urged them to intensify operations.
Governor Hyacinth Alia has again promised action after another deadly attack in Benue, yet 17 people died on Easter Sunday despite existing security claims. When leaders repeatedly label attacks "heinous" but armed groups still operate with ease in rural areas, public trust erodes. This latest bloodshed in Mbalom suggests that current security strategies are failing to protect vulnerable communities. For Nigerians in Benue's rural zones, safety remains more rhetoric than reality.
