Nine Killed in Series of Attacks on Nigerian Villages

Nine Killed in Series of Attacks on Nigerian Villages
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At least nine people, including a police officer, were killed in a wave of coordinated assaults on villages in Agatu County, Benue State, between August 1 and 5, 2025, local officials confirmed. The incidents, reported by residents and authorities, affected the communities of Okwutanobe, Okpokpolo, Olegagbani, and Ikpele.

According to local accounts, armed assailants crossed into Agatu from neighboring Kogi State before carrying out the attacks and retreating. County Chair James Melvin confirmed that four people were killed in the first three villages, while five, including a police officer, died in the August 5 assault on Ikpele.

Melvin suggested the violence may have been in retaliation for recent allegations of cattle theft by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria. He appealed for restraint, urging those affected to allow government investigations to proceed. Poor road infrastructure was cited as a major challenge for security forces responding to the incidents.

Agatu, a predominantly Christian farming region, has faced recurring clashes between farmers and herders, part of broader violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt. No arrests have been announced as of August 6, and police have yet to release a formal statement. The attacks add to ongoing concerns over rural insecurity.