At least nine people were killed in an attack on Mbalom community in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State on Saturday evening. The incident occurred between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., coinciding with preparations for Easter celebrations. Gwer East LGA Chairman Timothy Adi confirmed the deaths and one critical injury, adding that the injured person had been admitted to a hospital. He stated that the Commissioner of Police visited the area on Sunday and additional security had been deployed. The situation was reported to be calm following the intervention.
Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the attack, calling it a "barbaric, unacceptable act, and a direct affront to the collective peace and security of the state." His spokesman, Tersoo Kula, stated that Alia expressed sympathy to the bereaved families and reaffirmed the government's support. The governor noted a pattern of what he described as calculated and selective attacks in parts of the state, vowing that such acts would not be allowed to continue. He praised the Nigeria Police Force for their swift response and said they had assured him the perpetrators were being pursued for arrest and prosecution. Alia urged residents to remain calm and provide credible information to aid security operations.
Governor Hyacinth Alia's description of the attacks as "calculated and selective" suggests a disturbing level of organisation behind the violence in Benue. With nine lives lost in Mbalom over a single hour, the state's security response, while active, continues to arrive after the damage is done. For residents, this pattern means living under a persistent threat that official condemnations have yet to translate into prevention. The promise of strengthened intelligence and collaboration offers little comfort when attacks keep occurring with precision timing.
