Nine residents of Edikwu Ankpali in Apa Local Government Area, Benue State, were identified after a fresh attack by suspected terrorists on Sunday night. Community sources told SaharaReporters the victims were mainly fathers and primary providers, leaving families devastated. One source said, "This isn't farming but burial," adding, "Before we move on like people of zero empathy, these are the details that must be put out for the world to see."
The deceased included 31‑year‑old Elaigwu Pelu, a father of four; 62‑year‑old Oigene Ogah, responsible for 15 children; 78‑year‑old Adah Aboje, who raised 35 children; 59‑year‑old Peter Omafu, father of 13; 33‑year‑old John Peter Musa, caring for two young children; 31‑year‑old Ogagwu John, father of three; 30‑year‑old Eluma Ogbeni, provider for four children; 39‑year‑old John Elegbo, father of five; and 29‑year‑old Gideon Monday, described as "the only son of his parents and their hope and continuity."
A community member warned, "The world needs to understand that these are not just numbers. These are fathers, sons, and leaders whose absence will be felt for generations." The attack follows an earlier incident that killed about 11 people in Mbatsaida community.
SaharaReporters observed the once‑bustling settlement deserted after the April 4, 2026 assault, with empty homes and abandoned farmlands. Survivors fled to the neighbouring Agena community, where they now struggle for daily survival. Village head Chief Gbakaa Lorpine recalled that violence has plagued the area since a herders' raid on March 24, 2014, which killed 15 people. He said the latest raid began at about 5:12 p.m. on April 4, with attackers entering through the market, shooting indiscriminately and killing eleven, while several others were wounded. The chief escaped by fleeing into the bush in only his underwear.
Chief Gbakaa Lorpine's account underscores a persistent failure to act on long‑standing warnings about insecurity in Benue, allowing cycles of violence to repeat. The community's repeated pleas since the 2014 herders' raid appear to have been ignored, and the latest massacre demonstrates how quickly unaddressed grievances can erupt into lethal attacks.
The loss of nine primary breadwinners deepens economic hardship for households already coping with displacement. Families now dependent on limited aid in Agena face reduced income, disrupted schooling for children, and heightened vulnerability to food insecurity.
This tragedy fits a broader pattern of recurring attacks in the state's agrarian zones, where disputes over grazing rights and inadequate security responses have fostered an environment of fear and instability for ordinary Nigerians.
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