Edikwu Ankpali, Benue State – Sunday, June 1, 2025
In what has been described as a Black Sunday, tragedy struck the peaceful community of Edikwu Ankpali in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, as suspected Fulani herdsmen launched a deadly attack, killing no fewer than 25 people in cold blood.
Disturbing audio recordings of continuous gunfire have since surfaced and are now trending on social media, serving as grim evidence of the scale and intensity of the attack, which residents say lasted for several hours with little or no intervention from security forces.
Eyewitnesses and local sources described scenes of horror—families butchered, homes razed, and survivors fleeing into surrounding bushes for safety. The aftermath has left the community in mourning and fear, with many questioning when the killings will end.
“This is real war, not just skirmishes,” said a visibly distraught local leader who preferred to remain anonymous for security reasons. “Benue is not experiencing peace anywhere. These are not isolated incidents but part of a systematic onslaught aimed at displacing our people and seizing our ancestral lands.”
He continued with a passionate appeal: “The earlier we rise to confront this barbaric and unwarranted killings by these heartless killers attacking our communities daily without restrictions, the better for us. If not, tomorrow, there will be nowhere left to call Benue. Their agenda is clearly to take over our land and declare themselves owners.”
The attack has drawn condemnation from various quarters, though many believe that the silence of those in positions of power is both deafening and dangerous.
“If you are an appointee of the government, a critical stakeholder, a prominent Benue indigene, or a patriotic Nigerian and you’re quiet over these killings in our communities, then it is rather unfortunate,” he added. “Enough is enough.”
This latest massacre is part of a growing wave of violence that has plagued the state, reigniting fears of ethnic cleansing and a humanitarian crisis if urgent actions are not taken.
As of press time, no official statement has been issued by security agencies or the Benue State Government. Residents continue to count their losses as mass burials are being prepared for the victims.
