INSECURITY: FIVE KILLED IN BENUE, KEBBI FRESH ATTACKS

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A wave of violent attacks in parts of northern Nigeria has resulted in the deaths of at least five people and the abduction of a 30-year-old woman in separate incidents across Benue, Bauchi, and Kebbi states.

In Benue State, suspected armed herders reportedly launched an assault on Akpete community in Apa Local Government Area on Thursday evening, killing four residents and leaving several others unaccounted for.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers stormed the village and opened fire indiscriminately before retreating into nearby bushes.

Residents described the invasion as sudden and chaotic, with gunmen firing sporadically, forcing many to flee for safety.

One of the residents who craved anonymity said, “The people were armed herders and stormed our village Thursday evening. They were just shooting indiscriminately.

“Four dead bodies were recovered and many are still missing as of today (Friday),” the source said.

Some elders in the village reportedly made distress calls to the authorities but the attackers had fled before the arrival of security personnel.

When contacted, the Chairman of Apa Local Government, Adams Ochega, confirmed that four people were killed and many others injured.

Ochega, in a telephone interview with our correspondent, said, “We never had a problem with Fulani, they just attacked the village and killed four people. Some people were wounded and some have not been found.

“From my findings, the Akpete people had no problems with them at all. I left a meeting around 5 pm to 6 pm and heard that there were gunshots in the community. I called the area, but the network was bad; it was around 7 pm that I got through.

“I thereafter got across to the soldiers stationed at Ikobi. Before I could even get through to them, they were already in the community and even before they got there, people had attacked and run away.”

He confirmed that vehicles had been dispatched to bring Mobile Police personnel to Apa to complement the efforts of soldiers on the ground.

Efforts to get the spokesperson for the state police command, Catherine Anene, were not successful as calls put through her were not answered.

In Bauchi State, a former local government chairman, Isa Wabi, was brutally murdered in his residence in Fadaman Mada in the early hours of Friday.

Police reports indicated that the 66-year-old was attacked and stabbed multiple times by acquaintances of his son.

A suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident.

In Kebbi State, gunmen abducted a married woman, Nafisa Usman, from her home in Gayi village, Kalgo Local Government Area.

Family members said the attackers broke into her room around 2 am and took her away without harming anyone else.

According to the family members, a ransom of N20m has been demanded by the abductors, believed to be herdsmen.

The Chairman of Kalgo Local Government, Alhaji Yahya Kuka, condemned the abduction, promising that the victim would regain freedom unhurt.

Efforts to get the reaction of Kebbi police image maker, Nafiu Abubakar, failed as he did not pick calls put through to his line nor reply to text messages sent to him.

Similarly, a former chairman of Jama’are Local Government of Bauchi State, Isa Wabi, has been killed by a group of attackers.

A press statement issued on Friday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, said Wabi was killed on Friday.

“On the early morning of Friday, 2nd May 2025, at about 0403 hours, the police command received a distress call from a good Samaritan concerning an incident involving an attack by a group of youths at Fadaman Mada, located behind government girls secondary school Bauchi.

“In response, a dedicated team of officers was dispatched to the scene. They found Mr Isa Muhammad Wabi, a 66-year-old former chairman of Jama’are LGA, in critical condition due to injuries sustained in the attack. He was promptly evacuated to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, for urgent medical attention.”

Wakil maintained that preliminary investigations revealed that the victim was allegedly attacked by acquaintances of his 24-year-old son, Abdulgafar Isa Mohammed.

Investigation suggests that Ahmad Abdulkadir, also known as Abba, and Faruk Malami, referred to as Ajebo, had entered the home around 0300 hours and subsequently conspired to assault Mr Wabi. He sustained multiple stab wounds to the neck. He was also taken to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.”

The PPRO revealed that one of the suspects, Ajebo, was found unconscious at the scene, likely due to retaliatory action from an enraged individual.

He revealed that the ex-LG chairman’s son had been taken into custody for questioning.