Makurdi herdsmen attack leaves one boat operator dead and three others injured on Afubo Island, Benue State, amid rising militia concerns

A suspected herdsmen attack in Makurdi has left a wooden canoe operator dead and three others severely injured, local sources confirmed. The incident occurred around 6:15 p.m. on Afubo Island, near the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering headquarters.

Victims include canoe operator Jerry Saleh, who reportedly suffered amputation injuries, and two brothers, Edoh Adikwu and Adah Adikwu, who were attacked with machetes.

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A fourth Tiv farmer, whose identity remains unknown, sustained life-threatening injuries. All victims are receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre and Sandra Hospital in Makurdi.

According to Ekani Olikita, media aide to the House of Representatives member for Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency, the crisis began when approximately ten Fulani men boarded a motorised canoe from Wadata Market to Afubo Island but allegedly refused to pay fares, sparking a heated dispute.

Olikita said reinforcements from the island arrived after phone calls from the passengers, leading to a violent assault on non-Fulani passengers and residents.

The aide described Afubo Island as a suspected hideout for armed militia, who allegedly launch attacks on nearby communities in Makurdi, Gwer West, Agatu, and Apa local government areas before retreating to the island.

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“The island is a time bomb that requires immediate attention from security forces to prevent further escalation of violence,” the statement warned, highlighting the urgent need for intervention to restore peace in the region.