Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Benue State, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, has condemned the killing of four persons by suspected armed herdsmen in Abaashwa community, Mbaasar, Nzorov Council Ward of Guma Local Government Area, describing the attack as barbaric and another tragic reminder of the worsening security situation in the state. The attack, which occurred on the night of Monday, August 3, 2026, in the hometown of former Governor Samuel Ortom, also left several others with varying degrees of injuries, according to a statement issued on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, by his Media Assistant, James Ian.
Aondoakaa, a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, expressed deep sadness over the incident, describing it as "barbaric, heartbreaking and yet another painful reminder of the worsening security situation in Benue State." He extended his heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the attack and prayed for the speedy recovery of those currently receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the assault. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria lamented the persistent attacks on communities across the state, stressing that the effectiveness of any security arrangement should be measured by its ability to prevent attacks rather than merely responding after lives had been lost. "The true test of effective security lies in preventing attacks rather than merely responding after lives have been lost," he stated.
Aondoakaa noted that the recurring attacks on Benue communities had created an atmosphere of fear, forcing many farmers to abandon their ancestral lands and posing a serious threat to the state's agricultural economy. He observed that the people of the state are yearning for practical and sustainable security measures capable of ending what he described as the endless cycle of killings and displacement. The PDP governorship candidate appealed to the Benue State Government to appreciate that the protection of lives and property remains its foremost constitutional responsibility and should therefore command greater attention. "Every available resource, every security architecture and every policy initiative should be directed towards achieving that sacred responsibility. Benue people deserve security, not endless condolences," he declared.
Aondoakaa also expressed concern over reports that some of the injured victims could not access prompt medical treatment because of the ongoing industrial action by doctors in the state. He appealed to the relevant authorities to make emergency arrangements to ensure that victims of violent attacks receive immediate medical attention capable of saving lives. He prayed for the peaceful repose of the souls of those killed in the Guma attack, divine healing for those receiving treatment, and God's comfort for the families affected by the tragedy.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that the assailants stormed the community at about midnight while villagers were asleep, attacking homes and killing victims in their sleep. A community source said the attackers invaded the village without provocation, forcing open the doors of their victims and murdering them inside their houses. Three persons were killed during the initial attack, while several others sustained injuries. The injured were taken to the General Hospital in Gbajimba, but one of them later died, bringing the death toll to four. Several people are still missing, and search efforts are ongoing.
Confirming the incident, the Benue State Police Command said four persons were killed in the attack. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Peter Aondona, stated: "I can confirm that there was an attack in Guma LGA in which four persons were killed by suspected bandits. Investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being intensified to ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and brought to justice." The Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, Morris Orwough, also condemned the attack, describing the incident as heartbreaking and unacceptable. He disclosed that security personnel had been deployed to Abaushwa to restore peace, protect lives and property, and prevent further attacks.
A native of the area and former Executive Secretary of the Benue State Teaching Service Board, Dr. Frank Kyungun, who visited the community alongside former Governor Ortom and other prominent indigenes, described the attack as unprovoked and barbaric. He revealed that the community had taken extraordinary measures to avoid conflict, including resolving long ago to stop eating beef and removing it from local markets. "Even when our farmlands are destroyed by grazing cattle, our people have continued to exercise restraint. We cannot understand why innocent people should be killed without any provocation. It is a sad and painful development," he said.
The attack on Abaushwa community is the latest in a long history of violence that has plagued Benue State, where farmer-herder conflicts have claimed thousands of lives and displaced countless families over the years. Despite repeated calls for peace and the enactment of the state's anti-open grazing law, attacks have continued unabated, with communities in Guma and Logo local government areas bearing the brunt of the violence. For the people of Abaushwa, the midnight raid is a stark reminder of the fragility of their peace and the urgent need for decisive action to end the cycle of bloodshed. As Aondoakaa aptly put it, "Benue people deserve security, not endless condolences."
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