Suspected armed herders launched a deadly ambush on Ortese community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State on Tuesday, 23 December 2025, resulting in the deaths of at least five persons and leaving several others injured or missing.
The assailants reportedly barricaded the Ortese-Yogbo road, a key route linking communities along the Igyungu Aze-Yogbo axis, where they opened fire on travellers and residents. Local sources indicate that the attackers also pursued fleeing victims into nearby bushes, heightening fears of additional casualties.
Among the confirmed victims are Solo Uchi from Tse Hagher, who was killed while tending his farm; Alhaji Iorlaha from Orogbo; and Tersoo Uker from Tse Uker. Tersoo Uker, an internally displaced person (IDP), had ventured out to gather grass for roofing a temporary shelter due to overcrowding in the nearby IDP camp at Igyungu Aze.
A community member, speaking anonymously, described the scene as deeply distressing. “What we have seen so far is frightening. They attacked us on Tuesday, just days before Christmas. So far, five bodies have been recovered, but we believe more may still be found because several people are unaccounted for,” the source said.
Youths from the area have since initiated search operations in surrounding bushes, amid concerns that the death toll could rise. Reports also suggest that some residents were abducted and taken to unknown locations by the attackers.
This incident follows closely on the heels of similar violence in the region, underscoring the persistent insecurity plaguing Benue State, often referred to as Nigeria’s food basket due to its significant agricultural output.
Benue has long been a hotspot for conflicts between nomadic herders and sedentary farmers, driven by competition over land and grazing resources. The state enacted an anti-open grazing law in 2017 to regulate livestock movement and reduce clashes, but implementation challenges and recurring attacks have continued to fuel tensions.
According to reports, Guma Local Government Area has witnessed multiple deadly incidents in recent months. Earlier in December 2025, attacks on communities such as Udei and Nzorov claimed four lives, with women subjected to torture and others abducted. These patterns highlight a broader crisis, with analyst estimates indicating over 1,000 fatalities in Benue from herder-farmer related violence between May 2023 and May 2025.
The recurring violence has exacerbated humanitarian challenges, displacing hundreds of thousands and straining food production in a region vital to national supplies. Amnesty International has documented widespread displacement, with over 500,000 people in IDP camps across Benue as of late 2024, and additional thousands affected in 2025.
Residents of Ortese expressed profound anxiety following the attack, with many fleeing their homes for safer areas. “Our people are no longer safe here. Families are running away because we do not know when the attackers will return,” another local resident said.
