Benue North West – Zone B
Benue North West, also known as Zone B, covers seven local government areas and 90 wards, encompassing over 2000 villages and towns.
The local government areas are as follows;
- Makurdi
- Buruku
- Gboko
- Guma
- Tarka
- Gwer West
- Gwer East
Blood has been split in each of these local government areas, with atrocities committed with impunity, the Fulani herdsmen have rampaged the villages.
A brief outline of notable events are as follows;
Guma LGA: The Epicentre of Benue’s Herders-Farmer Crisis
Guma noted among LGAs where herders are expanding land control and era‑wide targeting
Key Attacks:
- Udei, June 2025, innocent farmers shot and killed.
- Tse Ivokor, June 2025, women where macheted and killed on their farms.
- Daudu, June 2025, Innocent famers were ambushed and killed. Search party which included soldiers were also ambushed and killed, over 10+ killed.
- Yelewata Town Massacre, June 2025 where over 200 killed in one night, with several children burnt alive.
- Villages in Guma hit in April 2022 (Semaka, Tyotugh, Gaambetiev) with 25+ casualties; with this trend became a regular occurrence.
- January 2018 New Year Massacre: Over 73 killed in Guma
- 2021–2024 Daudu IDP Camp Attacks: Militias raided camps, killing displaced persons.
- 2024 Agasha Attack: 15 farmers killed; 3 villages burnt.
Tactics Used:
- Night raids on sleeping villages.
- Blocking escape routes before attacking.
- Burning homes/farms to force displacement.
- Ambush of farmers in their farms.
Humanitarian Impact:
- Over 100,000 displaced (most in Daudu, Agasha camps).
- Food shortages due to farm destruction.
Gwer West LGA: Rising Banditry & Herder Collusion
Key Attacks:
- Ongoing Road Ambushes: Kidnappings on Makurdi-Naka Road.
- May 2025: Attacks on Tyolaha, Tse‑Ubiam, Ahume and Aondona killed 42 people.
- Mid‑May 2025: Another simultaneous gunmen attack left a reported 20+ dead.
- Feb 2025: Noted LGA-wide movement curfew and ambushes on returnees.
- 2024 Aondoana Massacre: 20+ killed, including women/children.
- 2023 Naka Market Attack: Herders opened fire, killing 12.
Tactics Used:
- Highway kidnappings (ransom demands).
- Collaboration with bandits from Nasarawa.
- Night raids on sleeping villages.
- Blocking escape routes before attacking.
- Burning homes/farms to force displacement.
Humanitarian Impact:
- Schools shut due to fear of attacks.
- Farmers fleeing to Makurdi.
Gwer East LGA: Silent Ethnic Cleansing?
Key Attacks:
- 2024 Ihyarev Attacks: Militias occupied abandoned villages.
- 2022 Aliade Farm Attacks: Herders burnt yam/rice fields, killed 8.
2023 Ikpayongo Raid: 17 killed, church vandalized.
Tactics Used:
- Land occupation after displacing locals.
- Destroying of farmlands.
- Desecration of sacred grounds
Night raids on sleeping villages.
Humanitarian Impact:
- Over 40,000 displaced (many in Makurdi camps).
- Rise in child malnutrition (farming families destroyed).
Buruku LGA: Economic Sabotage & Kidnappings
Key Attacks:
- Ongoing Crop Burning: Cassava/yam farms destroyed.
- 2024 Abwa-Adi Road Blockades: Herders extort travellers.
- 2023 Abuku Massacre: 20+ farmers killed in one night.
- Tactics Used:
- Farm destruction to cripple food supply.
- Road extortion (illegal checkpoints).
- Humanitarian Impact:
- Farmers abandoning lands → food price hikes.
- Increased poverty (loss of livelihoods).
Makurdi LGA: Spillover Violence & IDP Crisis
Key Attacks
- 2025: Akondutyough Community near Yagba, North Bank, Fulani hersmens indiscriminately shooting and macheting residents on sight and wounding several others. Several injured, 5 killed.
- 2017–2024: Daudu IDP Camp repeatedly attacked (last raid: Feb 2024).
- 2024: Makurdi-Gboko Highway declared “red zone” by OPWS.
2023: Herders crossed River Benue to raid North Bank suburbs.
Tactics Used
- Cross-river raids: Attackers swim cattle across River Benue at night.
- Urban infiltration: Herders graze cattle on Makurdi outskirts, testing security.
- IDP camp targeting: Militias attack displaced families to prevent returns.
Humanitarian Impact
- Makurdi hosts 60% of Benue’s IDPs (180,000+ people).
- Rise in urban crime: Displaced youth turn to all sorts of crime.
Gboko LGA: Economic Sabotage & Urban Threats
Key Attacks
- December 2023: Tor Tiv’s Palace threats – Herders grazed cattle on sacred royal farmland in Gboko town, provoking tensions.
- March 2023: Kidnappings along Gboko-Makurdi Road (ransoms up to ₦10M per victim).
June 2022: Herdsmen ambushed Tse-Agberagba village, killing 15 farmers.
Tactics Used
- Highway ambushes: Armed herders kidnap travellers near Yandev.
- Farm invasions: Cattle deliberately destroy yam/rice fields near Ipav.
Psychological warfare: Viral voice notes threaten attacks on market days.
Humanitarian Impact
- Food inflation: Gboko’s yam market (Nigeria’s largest) suffers 40% supply drop.
- Displacement: 8,000+ farmers fled to Makurdi camps (SEMA 2024 report).
Tarka LGA: Silent Displacement & Cultural Erasure
Key Attacks
- July 2021: Wannune farm raids – 12 killed, 200 hectares of crops burnt.
- November 2023: Tse-Agudu massacre – 8 children beheaded in retaliatory attack.
May 2024: Herdsmen occupied abandoned villages near Shibi.
Tactics Used
- Land grabs: Militias take over deserted villages (e.g., Ugba).
- Targeted killings: Beheadings used to spread terror.
Roadblocks: Extortion at Tarka-Jos junctions.
Humanitarian Impact
- Ghost villages: 15+ Tiv settlements fully abandoned.
- Education collapse: 12 primary schools closed (UNICEF).