Nine Fatalities Reported in Benue State Following Suspected Herder Attack on Ankpali Edikwu Ward

Suspected herdsmen kill nine in Benue State's Apa LGA. Governor Hyacinth Alia orders security forces to flush out terrorist camps from local forests.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 15, 2026, 10:02 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Channels Television

Deadly Assault on Ankpali Edikwu Community

Violence has once again struck the Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, resulting in the reported deaths of nine residents. The incident occurred on Sunday evening when armed individuals, identified by local witnesses as suspected herdsmen, launched an attack on the Ankpali Edikwu ward. According to community leader Bernard Ekah, the attackers entered the village raining bullets and shooting at anyone in sight. This latest surge in violence has left the community in a state of profound fear, forcing many residents to flee their homes in anticipation of further reprisal attacks.

Governor Alia Directs Security Forces to Flush Out Terrorists

In response to the killings, Governor Hyacinth Alia issued a stern directive to security agencies to intensify their operations against criminal elements. Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the Governor ordered the immediate dislodgment of armed herder terrorist camps identified in the forests of Apa, Otukpo, and Gwer-West. Alia noted that these groups have long exploited the state’s forested hinterlands as operational bases to launch unprovoked strikes against civilians. The administration emphasized that these criminal elements must be flushed out without delay to restore order to the volatile region.

Patterns of Recurrence and Rising Displacement

The recent massacre is not an isolated event but part of a troubling pattern of seasonal violence affecting the Ankpali Edikwu community. Local leaders observed that the same village was targeted by suspected herdsmen last year, leaving the population struggling to recover from previous trauma before this latest incursion. The persistent nature of these attacks has created a cycle of displacement, as families abandon their ancestral lands for fear of being caught in the crossfire. The lack of a permanent security presence in these vulnerable wards has been cited by community members as a primary factor contributing to the recurring bloodshed.