Gunmen kill mother, son, 2 others in Benue

Suspected armed herdsmen have killed a woman, her son, and two others in two communities of Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

The incident happened on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at Egwuma and Ogbai communities in the local government.

Two others were reported to be missing at the time of the attack.

A local from Egwuma who identified himself as Inalegwu said that the suspected armed herders stormed the two communities and attacked the innocent villagers.

“Some herdsmen attacked Egwuma and Ogbai communities today, they k!lled a woman and his son who were working on their farm and also k!lled two others at neighbouring Ogbai community. As I am talking to you now, two people are still missing and we are searching for them,” he said.

The Chairman of Agatu LGA, Melvin James, who confirmed the incident, described it as ‘senseless and barbaric’

“This is an unprovoked attack on our people, it’s senseless and barbaric. How could people attack and kill a mother and her son who were working on their farm? The incident happened today (Wednesday) at Egwuma, where they k!lled an innocent mother and her son working on their farm, and the other two people were killed at a neighbouring Ogbai community,” he said.

While commending the security personnel deployed to the area, the chairman said that the attack was unleashed on the two communities at the time the security personnel were on surveillance of other villages.

“The security operatives in Agatu have been doing their best to beef up security, but the problem in my council is the bad roads. At the time the incident happened, the security men were on surveillance of other areas,” he said.