Tragedy struck in the early hours of Thursday as suspected herdsmen launched a deadly attack on Mtsewnem, Akondutyough village, in the North Bank area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

Eyewitnesses say the assailants stormed the sleeping community around 3:00 a.m., leaving several feared dead and many others wounded in the wake of the assault.

Reacting to the incident, Ukan Kurugh, a humanitarian worker and human rights advocate, described the attack as “deeply disturbing,” noting that the incident occurred within 40 minutes of Makurdi town, raising alarm over the growing boldness of the attackers.

 “These brazen attackers continue to strike with impunity, undeterred by the presence of state and federal authorities,” Kurugh said in a statement on social media.

“To the wounded and to the families who lost loved ones, my heart grieves with you. We will not turn away. We will not be silent.”

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to reach the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Edet Udeme, for an official comment have been unsuccessful.

This latest assault adds to the growing list of violent attacks on communities in Benue, a state long troubled by recurrent clashes and killings attributed to suspected herdsmen militias.