Independence Day fanfare turned bloody in Egwuma Community in Agatu County, as Fulani Jihadists showed impunity to the military, unleashing another round of mayhem, killing eight and wounding the Community Monarch.
Egwuma community in Agatu County, located 67 miles (about 110 kiliometers) southwest of Makurdi, the Benue State Capital, has come under persistent attacks by Fulani terrorists
TruthNigeria had earlier reported the bloody attack on the same community of Egwuma on Sunday, 14th July, 2024, resulting in the death of 12 Christian men, leaving their wives as widows.
TruthNigeria, Epoch Times and Catholic News Agency have tracked a steady succession of lethal attacks in the northern half of Benue State since 2021, documenting that dozens of villages are being emptied of permanent residence by farmers. Approximately 15 villages near Egwuma, a town of 5,000, are half-empty already.
Another earlier reported attack — on Sunday, August, 11 2025 documented how the Jihadists returned to finish the job of driving away the predominantly Christian inhabitants from their community, killing one person and burning down most of the houses in Egwuma Community.
2 Soldiers, 6 Citizens Killed, Attempted Assassination of Monarch
In the latest attack, which took place on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, the 64th Independence Day Anniversary, 2 soldiers were killed in their base, His Royal Highness Chief Ezekiel Seni Aboh was wounded, and 6 other inhabitants of the community lost their lives. They are Joel Enokela, Alhassan Agbocheni, Ngbede Adoche, Audu Adoche and Azor Kelejime. A soldier and several locals were also wounded.
Punch reported Wednesday that the attackers crossed in from neighboring Kogi State, taking the soldiers by surprise. “They came in from Kogi State, took the soldiers by surprise, and began to shoot sporadically. They killed six persons, including the two soldiers, and took their guns,” according to a local eyewitness.
Citizens of Egwuma Speak Out
Speaking in an interview with TruthNigeria, a Youth Leader of the Community, Jeremiah Desmond, said the military defending the nearby forward operating base assured villagers it was safe to return to their residences on Sunday, two days before the lethal attack on Tuesday.
“The military let us down. They assured us of security and called on our people to return home on Sunday, September 29, 2024. We happily returned home on Sunday so that we could also use the opportunity to celebrate our Independence Day anniversary at home.
“From 4-5 pm (15-16 hrs. GMT) after praying in our various churches for peace and security of community and Nigeria generally, Fulani terrorists appeared from Akile road, going around the military base, shooting anyone on sight.”
“What is so surprising was that, as the Jihadists were shooting our people, the military refused to come out from their base, maybe thinking they could be spared,” Desmond told TruthNigeria.
“But unfortunately for them, the attackers invaded the military base, killing two of them, and wounding one. They carted away 5 of their motorcycles and an unspecified number of their weapons”, Desmond said in tears.
In his reaction to the carnage in an interview with TruthNigeria, the Agatu County Chairman, Hon. Barr Philip Ebenyakwu, condemned the attack, saying despite all efforts to end Fulani attacks on Agatu communities, the attackers have defied every solution.
“Shortly after the first two attacks on Egwuma Community, military personnel were deployed and stationed there but the recalcitrant terrorists are still daring the military, attacking our people.
Also speaking with TruthNigeria in an interview, the lawmaker representing Agatu State Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon Godwin Abu Edoh, lamented the endless atrocities on Agatu communities by Fulani terrorists.
“These are attacks too many. These attackers cross from neighboring Kogi and Nasarawa states to unleash terror on our people. The Federal Government has the solution to the lingering insecurity in our land but is not doing anything to end it”, Hon Edoh said.
Roman Catholic Clergy in Makurdi interviewed by TruthNigeria say that the military units stationed across the state’s northern counties do not engage Fulani ethnic terrorists during their attacks on unarmed native residents.
The federal lawmaker representing Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency, Pastor Ojotu Ojema, condemned the attack, saying “the terrorists are hellbent to take over our land, subjugate our people and impose their extreme religious ideology on them.”
“Our only sin is because our people are predominantly Christians and have refused embrace the evil ideology of the Jihadists”, Ojema said.
Former Member of the State House of Assembly representing Agatu constituency, the Hon Sule Dickeson Audu in an interview with TruthNigeria said 9 people lost their lives in the attack, including the two soldiers, the head of Egwuma, and six villagers.
“The incident happened between 4 pm and 5 pm (15 hrs. GMT and 16 hrs. GMT) on Tuesday. The bandits attacked Egwuma through Akile area, boycotting the road where soldiers were stationed, opening fire on the villagers and later attacked the military base.
“After the attack, terrorists went back to the part of Agatu land that they are occupying: Ogwumogbo, Ejuma, Akile, Okpogbolo, Okpiye, Echije.
“The military assured our people, asked them return home, and they returned on Sunday,” Audu said. “They were attacked on Tuesday,” Audu said.
When contacted two days after the attack, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benue State Police Command, SP Catherine Anene, said the Command had yet to be briefed about the attack.
The Nigerian Army had not reacted to the attack at the time this report was filed.
● Report and photos by Mike Odeh James and Olikita Ekani of TruthNigeria newspaper.
