Benue: Residents Flee Community As Herdsmen Launch Fresh Attacks

Following the launch of devastating attacks on their community by suspected herdsmen, frightened residents of Olena village situated in Asa, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, have fled their homes.

Information pieced together indicated that the village has been under severe sustained assault since Friday, March 28, 2025, which resulted in multiple casualties and several abductions.

One of the residents of the community (name withheld), said that villagers were left with no choice but to completely abandon their homes on late on Monday, March 31, on realizing that no assistance was forthcoming from security agencies.

According to the fleeing resident; “I fled with my family in the dead of night. Right now, the entire community has been deserted. Olena has been under siege for days. I am presently in Upu.

“They have killed and kidnapped several people. We have been crying and shouting loudly, but no security personnel have come to our aid. I barely managed to escape with my family tonight. Olena is still under attack as we speak”.

The pictures obtained by Forefront showed terrified residents running for safety to avoid the devastating effect of gun fire from the marauding suspected herdsmen that have surrounded the community.

Most of the fleeing residents are leaving the community with their family members but, leaving their properties behind as the attacks sparked fears and uncertainty among the people.

The development has raised concerns over the escalating insecurity in Benue State and the Middle Belt region of the country.

Further checks indicated that most of the fleeing and displaced villagers are left with no option than to seek refuge in surrounding towns and villages, relying on the goodwill of some relatives and humanitarian groups.

The Benue State government and the Nigeria Police command in the State, are yet to issue any official statement concerning the unfortunate development even as the community leaders have called on the authorities to take immediate action to restore peace in the troubled area and apprehend the suspected bandits responsible for the violence.