At least 17 residents have been confirmed dead following a deadly Easter Sunday attack on Mbalom community in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State, according to local reports and eyewitness accounts. The assault has left the community in mourning, with several others still missing as rescue efforts continue. Witnesses said armed assailants stormed the community without warning, opening fire on residents and setting multiple homes ablaze. The sudden violence forced many families to flee into nearby bushes and surrounding communities for safety.
Homes Burned, Residents Displaced
The attack reportedly caused widespread destruction across Mbalom, with several houses and valuable properties worth millions of naira destroyed by fire. Survivors say the community has been left devastated, as many displaced families are now seeking temporary shelter in safer neighboring areas while local volunteers continue search-and-rescue operations for missing persons.
Search Efforts Ongoing as More Victims May Be Found
Community sources said the casualty figure could rise as local youths and emergency responders continue combing nearby forests and affected homes. Several residents remain unaccounted for, raising fears that the number of fatalities may increase in the coming hours.
Authorities Yet to Issue Full Official Statement
As of the time of reporting, security agencies were still assessing the scale of the destruction, while authorities had yet to release a detailed official statement on the incident. However, Governor Hyacinth Alia has condemned the attack as barbaric and unacceptable, assuring residents that security agencies are on the trail of the perpetrators. Residents are calling for urgent reinforcement of security presence in vulnerable rural communities, especially during festive periods when attacks tend to cause higher civilian casualties.
Renewed Security Concerns in North-Central Nigeria
The latest bloodshed has once again highlighted the recurring insecurity affecting parts of Benue State and Nigeria’s North-Central region, where rural communities continue to face repeated violent attacks. Security analysts and residents say the tragedy underscores the urgent need for stronger intelligence gathering, rapid-response deployment, and long-term peacebuilding measures to protect vulnerable communities.
The Easter Sunday attack on Mbalom has added to the growing list of deadly assaults in Benue State, leaving families grieving and many survivors displaced. With at least 17 lives already lost and several persons still missing, pressure is mounting on authorities to restore calm, strengthen local security architecture, and ensure those behind the killings are swiftly brought to justice.
