The Mbalom community in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State has once again been plunged into grief and displacement following a series of deadly attacks by suspected armed herdsmen. The latest incidents, which occurred around early Saturday and Sunday, coinciding with Easter celebrations, have resulted in a significant loss of life, widespread destruction, and renewed calls for improved security.

Initial reports from the attack on Agena community within Mbalom on early Saturday indicated nine fatalities, a number that tragically rose to 11 after two more bodies were discovered during search efforts. One person was also injured, and a local resident described more than 50 attackers storming the village around 5 a.m., quietly igniting houses, food storage barns, and the local market before opening fire on sleeping residents. The extensive damage left the community scarred. By Monday, community mobiliser Christopher Gbasha confirmed the 11 deaths, noting that the survivors, including women and children, had deserted the community for safety, with youths remaining to guard the area. The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) was dispatched to document the destruction, finding the area calm but deserted.

However, other reports and human rights organizations suggest an even higher toll. Amnesty International, condemning the violence, stated that at least 17 people were killed when gunmen invaded the village on Sunday during Easter, injuring dozens and setting homes and shops ablaze. The organization heavily criticized Nigerian authorities for their persistent failure to protect residents from recurring violence, highlighting a pattern of unchecked attacks that have displaced over 500,000 people across Benue into overcrowded camps with limited resources.

The Benue State Police Command, conversely, confirmed a lower figure, reporting that nine bodies were recovered from Mbatsada, a settlement within Mbalom, after deploying a combined team of security personnel. The police statement, signed by PPRO Udeme Edet, indicated that suspected armed herdsmen carried out the assault, with preliminary findings pointing to heightened tensions within the locality. Tactical units, including the Police Mobile Force, were deployed to restore order and track down the attackers, with senior officers coordinating efforts on the ground. Despite official figures, residents continue to insist the scale of the attack is far greater.

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State strongly condemned the “heinous” and unacceptable attack, expressing sympathy to affected families. He acknowledged a troubling pattern of “calculated and selective attacks” in the state and pledged to strengthen security measures while urging security agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend the perpetrators.

This latest tragedy painfully echoes a history of violence in the Mbalom area. In April 2018, suspected herders attacked a Catholic church in the same community, killing two priests, Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha, and at least 15 other persons during morning mass, burning houses and destroying properties. The Catholic Diocese of Makurdi had then criticized the inadequate security response. Sunday's attack mirrors that earlier incident, with similar reports of killings, arson, and displacement, underscoring the ongoing vulnerability of agrarian communities in Benue State and raising critical questions about security and protection for its population. Investigations are ongoing, and security agencies are working to track down those responsible.