It was a blood-soaked Easter celebration in parts of Benue and Kaduna states as suspected armed herders and bandits launched coordinated attacks on vulnerable communities, leaving dozens dead, many injured, and several others missing.
In Benue State, at least 17 persons were reportedly killed when suspected herders stormed Mbalom and surrounding communities in Gwer East Local Government Area during the Easter weekend. The attackers, said to have arrived in large numbers, opened fire on residents, razed homes, and destroyed food barns and market stalls.
Eyewitnesses said the assault, which began in the evening, caught villagers unawares as many had gathered for market activities. Survivors fled into nearby bushes as gunmen shot indiscriminately, leaving bodies strewn across the community. Several residents are still unaccounted for.
Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the attack, describing it as “barbaric and unacceptable,” and assured that security agencies had been deployed to restore calm and apprehend the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, in Kaduna State, terrorists targeted worship centres, killing at least seven persons and abducting several others during church services. Security forces were said to have rescued dozens of worshippers in subsequent operations, though tension remains high across affected areas.
The coordinated assaults underscore Nigeria’s persistent security crisis, particularly in the Middle Belt and parts of the North-West, where rural communities continue to bear the brunt of violent attacks linked to armed herders, bandits, and extremist groups.
The latest violence has once again sparked outrage and renewed calls for decisive government action to halt the cycle of killings, especially during major religious festivities meant to symbolize peace and renewal.
Security agencies have yet to provide a comprehensive casualty figure, but local sources fear the death toll may rise as search and rescue efforts continue.
