Suspected armed herders invaded Agan Community in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State on Thursday, killing three people and triggering a violent protest by local youths.
The attackers stormed the area around 6 p.m. and opened fire indiscriminately, according to a resident, Terna, who witnessed the incident. The gunfire claimed the lives of three individuals.
Outraged by the killings, local youths reacted by marching to the home of Alfred Berger, the lawmaker representing the area in the Benue State House of Assembly. They dumped the victims’ corpses at his residence and attempted to set the building on fire.
Berger confirmed the attack in a statement to journalists on Friday. “Some angry youths brought the three corpses to my house and tried to burn it down. Only my children were at home at the time,” he said.
The spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, Catherine Anene, also confirmed the incident. She said police officers responded quickly to the distress call, pursued the attackers into the bush, and prevented the mob from setting the lawmaker’s house ablaze.
“On May 29, 2025, at about 6:00 p.m., we received information about an attack at Tse Orjime, Mbalagh council ward, Makurdi,” Anene said. “Police teams in the area responded immediately, chased the attackers into the bush, and stopped the youths from burning Hon. Alfred Berger’s house.”
She added that the police recovered the three corpses and transported them to the General Hospital, Northbank. An investigation into the incident is currently underway.
