A heavy cloud of grief hangs over Benue State as the Edikwu-Ankpali community in Apa Local Government Area laid to rest victims of a brutal attack by suspected Fulani armed militia that occurred on Sunday, June 1st, 2025. The mass burial, held today, was marked by tears, anguish, and a growing sense of despair over the relentless violence ravaging rural communities in the state.
According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers stormed the Edikwu-Ankpali village in the early hours of Sunday, unleashing terror on residents. Armed with sophisticated weapons, they killed scores, injured many, and displaced others, leaving the community in ruins. While the exact death toll remains unconfirmed, community leaders describe the casualty figure as “devastating,” with several still missing.
“This is not an isolated incident,” said one elder at the burial. “Our people have been dying silently, and it is time the world hears our cry.”
Emotions ran high during the funeral, with mourners wailing over rows of freshly dug graves. Clerics and traditional leaders led prayers for the souls of the departed and called for justice and immediate action from the government.
However, the grieving community was barely done burying its dead when news broke of another horrifying assault. On Monday, June 2nd, suspected armed militia launched a fresh attack on Naka, the headquarters of Gwer West Local Government Area, killing over 50 people, according to local reports. The bloodshed further deepens the crisis and raises urgent questions about the state’s security response.
The recent killings have reignited public outrage over what many see as attempts by some officials to downplay or conceal the scale of violence in Benue in order to maintain a narrative of “relative peace.”
“We cannot continue to hide the truth just to protect political interests,” a youth leader from Edikwu-Ankpali said. “Benue is bleeding, and the world needs to see it. Peace can never be built on a foundation of denial.”
So far, there has been no official statement from state authorities concerning either the Edikwu-Ankpali or Naka massacres. Security agencies also remain silent, further fueling frustrations among the populace who feel abandoned and unprotected.
Benue State has long been a flashpoint in Nigeria’s worsening farmer-herder crisis, with rural communities bearing the brunt of repeated attacks. The scale and frequency of violence have left many internally displaced and traumatized, while peace efforts have been described as too slow and ineffective.
As mass burials continue and fresh graves are dug, the people of Benue are demanding more than condolences. They are calling for accountability, decisive action, and a national response that addresses the root causes of the bloodshed that continues to haunt their lands.
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