By ConfirmNews
Residents of Igban community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State woke up to horror in the early hours of Wednesday, April 23, 2025, as suspected Fulani herdsmen launched a fresh and devastating attack, allegedly setting homes on fire and leaving the community in chaos and fear.
Eyewitnesses report that several houses were engulfed in flames before dawn, forcing families to flee into the bush for safety.
The number of casualties remains unclear, but residents describe the attack as one of the most traumatic the community has experienced in recent times.
“It is so disheartening… our homes, our properties, everything is gone,” a distressed local told ConfirmNews, holding back tears. “We were asleep when we heard gunshots. Before we knew it, houses were already on fire.”
The attack adds to the growing list of assaults on rural communities in Benue State, particularly in Guma LGA, which has become a recurring hotspot for farmer-herder clashes and armed invasions in recent years.
This incident comes just days after Governor Hyacinth Alia raised the alarm on national television, alleging that many of the heavily armed herders tormenting Benue are not Nigerians but foreign fighters from Mali.
The continuous wave of violence has triggered widespread fear and uncertainty among residents, with many calling on both state and federal governments to urgently deploy security personnel to the area and bring the attackers to justice.
As of the time of this report, no official statement has been issued by security agencies regarding the Igban attack, but the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) is expected to begin assessment of damages and displaced persons in the coming hours.
Benue remains one of the hardest-hit states in Nigeria’s ongoing security crisis, and the people of Igban are the latest victims of a conflict that shows no signs of slowing down.
Stay with ConfirmNews for more updates on this developing story.