BURUKU, Nigeria — Fresh violence broke out across parts of Benue State on Thursday, January 22, 2026, after suspected gunmen launched coordinated attacks in Buruku, Okokolo and Naka local government areas, leaving three people dead, one injured and another abducted, residents and security officials said.
The assaults, which unfolded in the early hours and continued into later parts of the day, renewed fears in rural communities of Benue, an agrarian state that has faced repeated episodes of deadly violence in recent months.
In Mbakura Mbagen, a community in Buruku Local Government Area, local sources said about five armed men arrived at roughly 3:30 a.m. and attacked operatives of the state’s Civil Protection Guards.
Two members of the guards, John Kunde and Sughter Orbunde, were killed, according to the sources.
The assailants also abducted a resident, Aondowase Ager, and fled with a Bajaj motorcycle said to belong to one of the victims.
The bodies of the two guards were later taken to the Ugbema mortuary, the sources said.
Security operatives were said to have begun search efforts in the surrounding area, with an operation under way to locate the attackers and rescue the abducted resident.
A second incident occurred hours later in Ejima community in Okokolo Local Government Area, where suspected armed herders opened fire at around 6:00 a.m., residents said.
Daniel Matthew, a community resident, sustained gunshot wounds.
Security personnel were deployed to Ejima and nearby locations following the attack, according to residents and local sources, who said the move was intended to deter further violence.
Later in the day, another deadly assault was recorded at Ammuneke village in Naka Local Government Area, where two young men, Akula Gugun, 27, and Odi Shimayoho, 28, were killed in an attack by suspected gunmen.
There was no official statement from Benue State authorities on arrests or a motive for the attacks as of the time of filing.
Security agencies, however, confirmed that operations were continuing to apprehend those responsible and prevent further violence.
