Herdsmen and Bandit Attacks Claim 33 Lives Across Benue, Imo, Kebbi, Ondo, and Kogi States

A wave of deadly attacks by herdsmen, bandits, and kidnappers over the weekend of May 17–18, 2025, left at least 33 people dead and several injured across Benue, Imo, Kebbi, Ondo, and Kogi states, exacerbating Nigeria’s ongoing security crisis. The incidents, reported by Vanguard and The Nation, highlight the persistent threat of armed groups exploiting ungoverned spaces and socioeconomic tensions. Below is a detailed breakdown of the attacks, their impacts, and proposed solutions, integrating insights from the provided sources and broader context from Nigeria’s security landscape.

Benue State: 15 Killed in Agatu Ambush

In the Ogwumogbio and Okpo’okpolo areas of Agatu Local Government Area (LGA), armed herders ambushed traders returning from Oweto market on Saturday evening, May 17, killing at least 15 people, including women and children. Former Agatu LGA Vice Chairman Anthony Ikwulono described the attack as unprovoked, noting that a herder, previously asked to vacate the area by the LGA chairman to allow farming, returned and orchestrated the ambush. “The victims were unprepared and did not try to defend themselves,” Ikwulono said on social media, highlighting the element of surprise. Several traders were injured, and some remain missing, with fear preventing locals from retrieving bodies from the bush. Agatu LGA Chairman Melvin Ejeh, emotionally overwhelmed, confirmed the attack, marking it as the first such incident under his tenure. The Benue State Police, via CSP Catherine Anene, had not received an official report at the time.

This attack follows a pattern of herdsmen violence in Benue, with 56 killed in Logo and Gbagir on April 18, 2025, and 79 in Turan, Kwande LGA, since May 2024. Rep. Ojema Ojotu, in a May 14 TVC interview, decried the occupation of communities like Akpete by herdsmen, rendering residents homeless and afraid to farm, with no significant federal response despite multiple motions.

Imo State: Herdsmen Shoot One in Agwa and Amakohia-Ubi

On Saturday night, May 17, suspected herdsmen attacked Agwa (Oguta LGA) and Amakohia-Ubi (Owerri West LGA), shooting sporadically and injuring one man with serious bullet wounds. A local source from Amakohia-Ubi reported that the attack was a reprisal for community efforts to prevent herders’ cattle from grazing on farms, a recurring issue. Residents kept vigil overnight, unable to sleep due to fear. A native of Agwa criticized the authorities’ inaction, noting past incidents, including the 2022 killing of Ozoemele Iriaka and a 2023 motorcyclist’s death in similar attacks. Communities like Obokofia and Obosa Asaa in Ohaji/Egbema have faced repeated invasions for resisting grazing. The Imo State Police, via DSP Henry Okoye, were unresponsive to inquiries. These attacks underscore escalating tensions in Imo, where herders’ reprisals have disrupted farming communities.

Kebbi State: 15 Farmers Killed in Waje Village

In Waje village, Danko/Wasagu LGA, bandits killed 15 farmers and injured three on Saturday night, May 17. Resident Malam Abdullahi reported that the attackers, arriving on motorcycles with high-caliber firearms, opened fire indiscriminately as farmers were leaving their fields. Kebbi State Police spokesperson CSP Nafiu Abubakar disputed the death toll, claiming 10 fatalities, with the injured receiving treatment. Deputy Governor Umar Abubakar Tafida, visiting the village, confirmed 15 deaths, donated N24 million on behalf of Governor Nasir Idris, and condemned the attack as a “dastardly act.” The incident reflects Kebbi’s vulnerability to banditry, with earlier attacks in 2025 contributing to over 150 deaths across the North-West, as noted in BBC reports.

Ondo State: APC Chairman Murdered After Ransom Payment

In Ifon, Ose LGA, kidnappers murdered Nelson Adepoyigi, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, after collecting a N5 million ransom on May 17, following his abduction on May 12. The kidnappers, initially demanding N30 million, killed Adepoyigi when the full amount wasn’t met, though they released two ransom bearers. Ose LGA Chairman Kolapo Ojo described the security situation as “critical,” citing a pattern of brazen abductions, including a near-kidnapping days earlier. The Ondo State Police Commissioner, Wilfred Afolabi, deployed officers to investigate, unable to confirm the killing initially. This follows a March 8 attack in Akure North, where herdsmen killed 14 in reprisal for 100 cows allegedly killed by a vigilante group, highlighting escalating herder-farmer tensions.

Kogi State: Three Hunters Killed in Okoloke

In Okoloke, Yagba West LGA, bandits killed three hunters/vigilantes on Saturday morning, May 17, days after the abduction of traditional ruler Oba James Ogunyanda Illufemiloye on May 15. Sources suggest the victims, hired by a telecommunications provider to protect technicians fixing a mast, were ambushed while searching for the monarch. Youth leader Demola Samuel reported community outrage, with residents fleeing due to worsening insecurity. The Kogi State Police, via SP William Aya, did not respond to inquiries. The attack follows a December 2024 bandit raid in Odo-Ape, Kabba-Bunu LGA, where eight were abducted, underscoring Kogi’s growing banditry problem.

Broader Context and Systemic Issues

These attacks, claiming 33 lives, reflect Nigeria’s multifaceted security crisis, driven by:

• Herdsmen-Farmer Conflicts: In Benue and Imo, reprisals for restricting grazing fuel violence, rooted in resource competition and the loss of 415 grazing reserves to population growth and desertification. Benue’s 2017 anti-open grazing law, while aimed at reducing clashes, has been met with resistance, with Miyetti Allah citing cattle theft as a trigger.
• Banditry and Kidnapping: In Kebbi, Ondo, and Kogi, bandits exploit ungoverned spaces, using high-caliber weapons and drones, as noted by retired Maj. Bone Efoziem. Kidnapping for ransom, as seen in Ondo, has become a lucrative industry, with 35 abductions reported in Benue in 2023 alone.
• Religious and Ethnic Tensions: In Benue, attacks disproportionately target Christian farmers, with 119 incidents in Makurdi Diocese in 2023 killing over 400, suggesting a religious dimension beyond land disputes.

Stakeholder Reactions and Proposed Solutions

• Afenifere’s Call for State Police: The Pan-Yoruba group, via Jare Ajayi, linked the attacks to a broader terrorism surge, advocating for state police to enable localized security responses. Ajayi noted the suspicious timing of increased banditry amid 2027 election campaigns, urging an audit of security strategies.
• Senate’s Forest Security Push: On May 15, the Senate urged President Tinubu to sign the Nigerian Forest Security Service Bill, 2025, and establish armed Forest Guards to secure Nigeria’s forests, citing the abduction of Oba Ogunyanda and Benue attacks.
• Military and Expert Insights: Retired generals, as reported in Vanguard, criticized intelligence failures and outdated tactics, recommending a one-million-strong military, drone countermeasures, and socioeconomic programs to address poverty and unemployment. Security analyst Dr. Hashim Saludeen emphasized disrupting terror financing, while RULAAC highlighted governance failures.
• Community Frustrations: In Benue, Rep. Ojotu and locals like those in Gbagir lament government inaction, with communities feeling abandoned. In Kogi, Demola Samuel’s plea for intervention reflects a community under siege.

Proposed Solutions

Drawing from expert recommendations and stakeholder demands, a multi-pronged approach is critical:

1. Strengthen Security Infrastructure:
   • State Police: Implement Afenifere’s call for state-controlled policing to enable community-focused responses, as suggested by a retired Major General.
   • Forest Guards: Fast-track the Forest Security Service Bill and deploy armed Forest Guards, as urged by the Senate, to secure hideouts.
   • Military Modernization: Expand the military to one million personnel, modernize equipment, and counter insurgent drones, per Brig. Gen. Idris Bello.
2. Enhance Intelligence and Coordination:
   • Establish a unified command center with representation from all security agencies, as proposed by Maj. Bone Efoziem, to improve response times.
   • Intensify intelligence gathering on bandit logistics, using aerial reconnaissance, as suggested by Lt. Col. Gbolawole Majekodunmi.
3. Address Socioeconomic Drivers:
   • Launch job creation, education, and infrastructure programs in affected regions to reduce youth vulnerability, as advocated by RULAAC and Dickson Osagie.
   • Facilitate dialogue between herders and farmers, with grazing reserves or ranching transitions, as recommended by the International Crisis Group.
4. Regional and Diplomatic Efforts:
   • Strengthen Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) operations and border controls with Sahel neighbors to curb arms flows, per Osagie and Efo personally.
   • Engage drone manufacturers diplomatically to trace insurgent supplies, as Efoziem suggested.
5. Community Empowerment:
   • Support local vigilantes with training and resources, as seen in Ondo’s Amotekun, to bolster community defense.
   • Educate communities on reporting suspicious activities, as urged by Ose LGA’s Kolapo Ojo.