Fresh waves of violence swept across several states yesterday as armed herdsmen and insurgents carried out deadly assaults, leaving multiple casualties and sparking protests.
In Benue State, gunmen suspected to be armed herdsmen killed at least three farmers in Yelewata community, Guma Local Government Area. The victims were reportedly attacked while working on their farms, just weeks after a similar incident claimed over 200 lives in the same area.
The killings triggered protests by local women, who blocked the Makurdi–Lafia highway, demanding decisive action to end the bloodshed and secure the return of over 3,000 displaced residents. Both the local council chairman, Maurice Orwough, and the governor’s security adviser confirmed the attack, though they noted it occurred in a village near Yelewata.
Meanwhile, in Borno State, suspected Boko Haram fighters stormed Kirawa, a border community with Cameroon, late Saturday night. Initial reports indicated two Nigerian soldiers were killed, but the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Maj. Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, later clarified that the attack targeted Cameroonian troops stationed across the border. The raid left many residents fleeing into Cameroon, while the insurgents reportedly abducted a female student.
In Plateau State, Senator Diket Plang alleged that recent killings in Bokkos LGA were orchestrated by foreign armed groups working with local collaborators. He warned that the attacks were part of a wider plan to displace indigenous communities and occupy their lands. The senator urged tighter security coordination, improved road networks for troop movement, and permanent military outposts in volatile areas.
Zamfara State also faced a surge in violence, with the Zamfara Circle Community Initiative reporting 15 villages attacked between August 4 and 10. The assaults left 24 people dead, 144 kidnapped, and 16 injured. However, the Nigerian Air Force announced a major counter-operation in Makakkari Forest, killing several terrorist kingpins and foot soldiers in precision airstrikes backed by ground forces.
On the international stage, the United States urged West African and Sahelian states to set aside differences and jointly combat terrorist threats. U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Shea, condemned recent attacks by Boko Haram, ISIS, and other extremist groups, warning that terrorism in the region poses a global security risk.
