Gunmen Kill 15 Farmers In Benue Harvesting Cashew Fruits In A Plantation

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani Militia on Friday reportedly killed at least 15 villagers during an assault on Ojantele community in the Apa Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.

Witnesses said the victims were among residents who had gone into nearby bushes to harvest fallen cashew nuts following overnight rainfall, Daily Trust is reporting.

According to residents, the victims, mostly women and youths from neighbouring communities including Asaba and Akpete, were gathering cashew nuts around Ogbaulu when the attackers suddenly opened fire on them.

The assailants reportedly killed at least 15 people and injured several others during the attack.

Residents also alleged that the attackers arrived in the area with a large herd of cattle and began shooting sporadically as villagers returning from their farms fled for safety.

A witness who spoke on condition of anonymity told journalists in Makurdi by telephone that at least 15 bodies had been recovered as of the time of the report.

The source added that 11 other victims sustained varying degrees of injuries and were taken to a hospital in Ugbokpo, the headquarters of Apa Local Government Area, for treatment.

Some villagers also claimed that several residents remain missing, including a woman who was reportedly abducted during the attack.

The chairman of Apa Local Government Area, Adams Ochega, confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation with our correspondent but said he was yet to receive comprehensive details of the attack as he was away on official duty.

He appealed for time to obtain accurate information on the incident.

While local community leaders maintain a death toll of 15, the Benue State Police Command has officially confirmed six fatalities as of Saturday morning. State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, stated that 11 other victims—suffering from various degrees of gunshot wounds—are currently battling for their lives at a hospital in Ugbokpo, the local government headquarters.

Governor Hyacinth Alia has slammed the “senseless and cowardly” ambush, describing it as a direct hit on the state’s soul. In a stinging statement, the Governor expressed deep sorrow and ordered an immediate manhunt for the killers.

“This is a heartbreaking attack on hardworking citizens who were merely seeking their daily bread,” the Governor said. “We will not fold our arms while our people are slaughtered like animals on their ancestral lands. The security agencies have been briefed to smoke them out.”

A joint task force of Police, Military, and local vigilantes has since been deployed to the surrounding forests to track the assailants and rescue those still unaccounted for.

The Chairman of Apa LGA, Adams Ochega, confirmed the incident, noting he is awaiting a full operational briefing from the ground commanders. This latest massacre has sent shockwaves through Benue’s “food basket” belt, sparking fresh fears that farmers may abandon their crops entirely as the new planting season looms.