Benue and Anambra Plunge Deeper into Crisis Amid Surging Armed Attacks

Benue and Anambra States—Nigeria’s growing security challenges have once again taken a deadly turn, as two separate attacks—one in Benue and the other in Anambra—have claimed the lives of both civilians and security personnel, raising urgent questions about the country’s worsening violence.

Late Wednesday night, gunmen suspected to be herdsmen unleashed terror on the Ikobi-Ochekwu community in the Apa Local Government Area of Benue State. According to multiple reports, the coordinated assault persisted for several hours, leaving scores dead and homes reduced to ashes. Among the victims was a soldier who had recently married, compounding the tragedy for both the community and the Nigerian military.

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Local resident Ochofie, who narrowly escaped the onslaught, recounted the horror to Daily Post, stating that the attackers stormed the village under the cover of darkness, indiscriminately opening fire and setting residential buildings ablaze. “It was hell. People were just running in every direction. They burnt homes, they didn’t spare anyone,” he said.

The exact death toll remains uncertain, as several villagers are still unaccounted for. However, by early Thursday morning, two more bodies—identified as Sani Ngbede and Aduba Paul Ogboyi—were discovered in nearby Ijaha. Authorities are yet to confirm the identities of many others, including the slain soldier.

This violent episode adds to the long history of herdsmen-farmer clashes in the Middle Belt, a region plagued by communal tensions and weak security infrastructure. Community leaders have repeatedly called for increased government intervention, but attacks continue unabated, often with devastating consequences.

Tragedy in Anambra: Soldier Killed at Strippers’ Party

In another disturbing development, a soldier assigned to Operation Udoka—a military initiative aimed at restoring peace in Nigeria’s troubled South-East—was killed by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Anambra State. The incident occurred on Saturday, May 18, 2025, when the soldier reportedly sneaked out of his base to attend a private gathering known as the ‘Ladies’ Jamboree,’ a strippers’ party hosted near the Forward Operating Base in Uli.

Clad in his military uniform, the soldier was later found fatally shot alongside a baby. A security source disclosed to The PUNCH that the soldier was discovered missing during a routine tactical operation. His body and that of the infant were eventually recovered, and his weapon has since been secured by the Nigerian Army.

“He left his base without clearance, in full uniform, to attend a social gathering. It was there he encountered IPOB/ESN fighters who fatally shot him,” the source explained.

Attempts by The PUNCH to reach the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, for an official comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.

A Growing Trend of Targeted Killings

These incidents represent only the latest in an alarming pattern of violence targeting both civilians and security forces across Nigeria. In the South-East, IPOB and its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), have been accused of launching increasingly brazen attacks against state personnel and infrastructure. The killing of the soldier at a civilian event further complicates the narrative around security lapses, individual recklessness, and the persistent threat of insurgency.

In contrast, the situation in Benue underscores the enduring failure to resolve the crisis between farming communities and nomadic herders, a conflict that has simmered for over a decade. The state remains one of Nigeria’s most volatile, with frequent incidents of mass killings, displacement, and destruction of property.

Calls for Urgent Government Action

Both tragedies have ignited renewed calls for stronger federal intervention. In Benue, local leaders are demanding more troops and better intelligence-sharing mechanisms. In the South-East, security analysts argue that tighter military protocols and disciplinary enforcement are crucial to preventing similar incidents, especially those stemming from indiscipline within the ranks.

As Nigeria contends with complex internal conflicts spanning ethnic, religious, and political lines, the federal government faces the monumental task of restoring order and rebuilding public trust in the security apparatus.

Until then, communities like Ikobi-Ochekwu and regions like Anambra remain at the mercy of a relentless tide of violence—claiming lives, displacing families, and deepening the wounds of a nation already grappling with profound insecurity.