•Gunmen
Three persons have been left dead and one other injured as suspected gunmen attacked the Buruku, Okokolo, and Naka Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue State yesterday, Thursday, 22 January 2026.
In Mbakura Mbagen village, Buruku LGA, five gunmen reportedly stormed the community at about 3:30 a.m., killing John Kunde and Sughter Orbunde, both members of the state’s Civil Protection Guards, reports Daily Independent.
This was made public on the verified X account of security and counterinsurgency expert Zagazola Makama, today, Friday, 23 January 2026.
The assailants also abducted Aondowase Ager and seized a Bajaj motorcycle belonging to one of the victims. The victims’ bodies were later removed to the mortuary at Ugbema, while efforts continue to secure the release of the abducted individual.
On the same day, armed herder bandits attacked the Ejima community in Okokolo LGA at about 6:00 a.m., opening sporadic gunfire that left Daniel Matthew with a gunshot injury. Security personnel combed nearby areas to track the attackers and prevent further attacks.
Later in the day, Ammuneke village in Naka LGA was targeted in a separate attack, resulting in the deaths of Akula Gugun, 27, of Amuneke, and Odi Shimayoho, 28, of Tse-Asuhee. Bodies of the deceased were removed to Agagbe morgue, while searches for the perpetrators continued in the surrounding bushes.
In a related development, a man identified as Benjamin Terver Awuna, of Usen village, Buruku LGA, was arrested on suspicion of acting as an informant to herder bandits. Investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly collected airtime worth N6,000 from the armed herders to relay information that would facilitate attacks on villages.
