RismadarVoice Reporters, March 14, 2026
At least 15 villagers have been killed after suspected terrorists attacked residents harvesting cashew nuts in Ojantele community, Apa Local Government Area of Benue State.
Residents said the victims had gone to gather fallen cashew nuts on Friday morning following an overnight rainfall when the attackers struck.
Witnesses, who spoke anonymously for fear of reprisals, said the assailants opened fire on farmers working in the Ogbaulu area, causing panic as people fled for safety.
According to a community source who spoke to journalists by telephone from Makurdi, the gunmen shot at residents indiscriminately.
The source confirmed that 15 bodies had been recovered, while 11 other victims sustained injuries and were taken to a hospital in Ugbokpo, the headquarters of Apa Local Government Area.
Some villagers also reported that several residents remain missing after the incident, including a woman believed to have been abducted.
Others alleged that the attackers arrived in the area with a large herd of cattle before the shooting began.
The Chairman of Apa Local Government Area, Adams Ochega, confirmed the attack but said he had yet to receive full details as he was away on official duty at the time.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Benue State Police Command were unsuccessful as calls and text messages to the command’s spokesperson went unanswered.
Residents say the attack has heightened fears among farming communities as the planting season approaches.
Many farmers are reportedly reluctant to return to their fields due to insecurity, raising concerns about possible food shortages.
Security analysts have linked the recurring violence in parts of Benue State to armed banditry, long-standing farmer–herder tensions, and inadequate security presence in remote settlements.
They warn that continued attacks on farmers during harvesting and planting periods could threaten livelihoods and disrupt food production in the state, widely regarded as Nigeria’s food basket.
The latest incident comes days after another deadly attack in Kwande Local Government Area, where at least 13 people were reportedly killed on March 6.
Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned that attack, describing the killings as barbaric and unacceptable, and directed security agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible.
Benue has experienced repeated attacks on rural communities in recent years, resulting in deaths, displacement, and growing fears among residents.
