Gunmen Kill Two and Displace Hundreds in Renewed Attacks on Guma Communities
The fragile peace in the North Central region of Nigeria has been shattered once again following a deadly incursion by armed bandits into several communities in Benue State. In the latest string of Benue gunmen attacks January 2026, at least two residents were confirmed dead, while hundreds of others have been forced to flee their ancestral homes. The attacks, which targeted agrarian settlements in the Guma Local Government Area, have reignited fears of a widespread humanitarian crisis as the farming season approaches.
Details of the Guma Local Government Killings
According to local sources and survivors who managed to reach the state capital, Makurdi, the gunmen launched their assault in the late hours of Thursday. The attackers, reportedly numbering in the dozens and armed with sophisticated weaponry, moved through the villages of Udei and surrounding hamlets, shooting sporadically. The Guma local government killings claimed the lives of two men who were unable to escape the initial onslaught, while several others sustained varying degrees of gunshot wounds.
Witnesses described a scene of total chaos as families were woken by the sound of gunfire. “They didn’t come to steal; they came to displace us,” one survivor lamented. The systematic burning of granaries and thatched houses suggests a calculated effort to destroy the livelihoods of the local populace, ensuring they cannot return to their lands in the immediate future.
The Growing Displacement of Farmers in Benue
Perhaps the most devastating fallout of this raid is the massive displacement of farmers in Benue. Guma is widely considered part of the “Food Basket of the Nation,” and these recurring attacks are creating a vacuum in agricultural productivity. Hundreds of women and children are currently taking refuge in open-air makeshift camps and primary school buildings in safer zones, lacking basic amenities like clean water, food, and blankets.
This displacement is not just a local issue but a national security concern. As thousands of hectares of fertile land are abandoned due to fear, the ripple effects on food prices across Nigeria are expected to be significant. International human rights organizations have frequently warned that the persistent security crisis in North Central Nigeria is creating a “lost generation” of children who are being pulled out of school and forced into a life of perpetual displacement.
Response from the Benue State Police Command Report
Confirming the incident, the Benue State Police Command report indicated that tactical teams have been deployed to the affected areas to restore order and prevent further incursions. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) stated that while the situation is currently under control, the rugged terrain of the Guma border makes it difficult for motorized patrols to reach deep-seated forest hideouts used by the bandits.
The Command has urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information to security agencies. However, many locals have expressed skepticism, calling for more permanent security outposts rather than reactive patrols. There are growing calls for the Federal Government to upgrade the equipment available to the “Operation Whirl Stroke” task force to match the firepower being displayed by the marauding gunmen.
A Call for Humanitarian Intervention
As the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) continues to swell, the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) is struggling to keep up with the demand for relief materials. The humanitarian situation in Guma is reaching a breaking point, with local NGOs calling on the international community to provide urgent assistance.
The Benue gunmen attacks January 2026 serve as a grim reminder that the battle for the heart of Nigeria’s agricultural belt is far from over. Without a decisive and sustained military presence combined with a robust social rehabilitation program for displaced persons, the “Food Basket” risks becoming a hollow shell of its former self.
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