Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
MAKURDI, Nigeria — A violent assault on Abande Market in the Mbaikyor Ward of Turan, Kwande Local Government Area, Benue State, has left more than 16 people dead, including at least one Mobile Police officer, and several others missing after suspected armed herdsmen or terrorists stormed the trading centre on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. The attack, which occurred during market hours while traders and customers were conducting business, has triggered fear across surrounding rural communities and renewed questions about security and protection in the region.
Eyewitnesses and community leaders said the assailants, described locally as armed herders, arrived in large numbers and opened fire on civilians, causing chaos and panic. Shops were looted of cash and goods — with traders alleging that millions of naira were taken — before parts of the market were set on fire. Residents said the attackers fled into nearby bushland after the violence, leaving behind bodies and frightened survivors.
A community leader and former supervisory councillor in Kwande Local Government Area, Mr. Lawrence Akerigba, recounted that it was a regular market day when the violence erupted. He said the attackers not only opened fire but also carted away substantial amounts of traders’ money before burning the market. As of late Tuesday night, some of the victims’ bodies were transported to the morgue in Jato-Aka by personnel of the Mobile Police Force stationed in the area.
There have been conflicting reports over casualty figures. Several sources, including local residents, reported that 17 people, including the Mobile Police officer who was the unit commander on duty, were killed in the assault. Other accounts from official security statements put the confirmed deaths at five — one police officer and four civilians — based on early police confirmation. Authorities said additional personnel and armoured vehicles have been deployed to secure the area and prevent further breakdown of law and order.
The attack has deepened concerns about insecurity in the Turan area and neighbouring communities, which have experienced repeated assaults in recent years. Akerigba lamented the worsening security situation and questioned why protective measures — including enforcement of the Benue Open Grazing Prohibition Law — have not effectively safeguarded border communities, especially those close to the Nigeria–Cameroon international border, where Abande is located.
In response to the massacre, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the violence in strong terms, describing it as a “cowardly act of terror” that has affronted the peace and shared humanity of the state’s residents. In an official statement, Alia expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and vowed that the government would intensify security operations and collaborate with federal agencies to pursue and bring the perpetrators to justice. He stressed the importance of unity and resilience among communities affected by the incident.
The governor also assured residents that additional security measures would be deployed to protect lives and property, and urged peace-loving citizens not to lose hope amidst the violence.
Security analysts say the attack highlights broader challenges confronting Nigeria’s rural areas, particularly those in north-central states like Benue, where armed herdsmen and militant groups periodically carry out organised assaults on villages and markets. Such violence often disrupts local economies, displaces families and strains limited security resources, leaving communities vulnerable to repeated incidents.
The Benue State Police Command has reiterated that it has mobilised combined personnel to the affected area to restore calm, conduct thorough searches and prevent further violence. Authorities have assured the public that all necessary measures are being taken to track down those responsible for the attack and reinforce security in border communities.
Meanwhile, residents continue to search for missing loved ones and await credible information on the full toll of the tragedy. The incident has once again drawn attention to the ongoing insecurity faced by rural traders and farmers who rely on markets like Abande for livelihoods, underscoring the urgent need for sustained protective measures and stronger local intelligence networks.
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