Easter Sunday Massacre in Benue: 17 Dead, Many Feared Trapped Under Rubble.
What was meant to be a day of joy and worship turned into a scene of horror yesterday when armed herdsmen invaded Mbalom community in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State. The attack, which took place on Easter Sunday, has left at least 17 people dead, with many more still missing as of Monday morning.
Local residents told our reporter that the gunmen arrived on motorcycles around daybreak, just as families were preparing for church services. Witnesses described how the attackers moved from house to house, shooting sporadically and setting buildings on fire. The chaos forced many villagers to flee into nearby bushes, where some remain trapped or unaccounted for.
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“We heard gunshots from different directions. Before we could understand what was happening, our neighbors were already running for their lives,” said Tyover, a resident who escaped with his wife and three children. “They burned my brother’s house completely. We don’t know where he is.”
As of the time of filing this report, rescue workers and volunteers had recovered 17 bodies from the community. Several of the victims were reportedly women and elderly people who could not run fast enough. Community leaders fear the number could climb higher once search teams finish combing through the debris.
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“We have found 17 dead bodies so far, but the counting is still going on,” said a member of the local vigilante group who requested not to be named for safety reasons. “Many people are missing. We are still calling out names and checking houses that were burned. Some people may still be under the rubble.”
The attack is the latest in a long line of violent clashes involving herders and farming communities in Benue State, which has suffered repeated raids over the past several years. But striking on Easter Sunday, a day observed by Christians across the country as a celebration of resurrection and peace, has left many residents emotionally broken.
“This is not just an attack. It is a deep wound on our faith,” said Reverend Father Andrew Abulu, a local cleric who helped organize early searches for the missing. “You do not come on the day we celebrate the triumph of life and turn a whole village into a funeral ground.”
Security forces have since been deployed to the area, but as of Monday morning, no arrests had been made. A police spokesperson in Benue State confirmed the incident and said an investigation had been opened. However, residents say they have little trust left in the system, claiming that previous attacks on Mbalom and nearby villages have gone unpunished.
“We have written several letters. We have reported to the local government chairman. Nothing changes,” said Esther Ikyereve, a trader who lost her shop in the fire. “Now Easter is gone. Our people are gone. And we are left with only tears.”
The state government has yet to issue an official statement on the attack, but a source in the governor’s office told our reporter that an emergency security meeting was scheduled for later today.
For now, the people of Mbalom are left to bury their dead and search for their missing. As one elderly woman put it, standing outside the ruins of her home: “We were singing ‘Christ is risen’ yesterday morning. By afternoon, we were singing songs of the dead. What kind of world is this?”
More details to follow as the situation develops.
Easter Sunday Massacre in Benue: 17 Dead, Many Feared Trapped Under Rubble.
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