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At least 13 people were killed on Friday when armed attackers stormed Anwase Market in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, opening fire on traders and residents, abducting several women, and setting shops ablaze, according to local officials and eyewitnesses.
The assault, which occurred in Mbaikyor ward, came just days after another deadly attack in the same local government area, deepening fears of a renewed wave of violence in the agrarian communities of northern Benue. Local authorities described the incident as one of the deadliest market attacks in the area in recent weeks.
The killings show a worsening security crisis in Benue State, where repeated assaults on rural communities and commercial hubs have continued despite assurances from state authorities and security agencies that operations have been intensified. Markets, which serve as lifelines for local economies, have increasingly become targets, amplifying the humanitarian and economic toll on residents.
The latest violence has triggered renewed calls from community leaders and residents for urgent federal and state intervention to halt the bloodshed and prevent further displacement.
According to accounts from traders and residents, the attackers struck during peak trading hours, catching buyers and sellers off guard. Witnesses said the gunmen emerged suddenly from a nearby mountain, firing sporadically as panic swept through the market.
“They came from the mountain and started shooting everywhere,” one trader told PREMIUM TIMES, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons. “People ran in different directions. After that, they began burning shops and taking some women away.”
Several stalls and makeshift shops were torched during the attack, leaving charred remains of goods scattered across the market by the time security personnel arrived. Residents said many traders fled into surrounding bushes to escape the gunfire.
An aide to the Kwande Local Government chairman, Ibi Andrew, confirmed that 13 people were killed in the attack. He said the council chairman, Vitalis Neji, visited the area alongside security agencies shortly after the incident to assess the damage and restore calm.
According to Andrew, the local government is working with security forces to prevent retaliatory attacks and track the perpetrators, though residents remain fearful.
Families were still searching for missing relatives as of Friday evening, with residents reporting that several women were abducted during the raid. The exact number of abductees remains unclear.
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As of the time of filing this report, the Benue State Police Command had not issued an official statement confirming the Anwase market attack. Repeated calls and messages to the police spokesperson, Edet Udeme, went unanswered.
The lack of immediate police confirmation has fueled frustration among residents, who say delays in official responses often follow deadly attacks in rural areas.
Friday’s assault came barely two days after another attack in Abande community, also in Kwande Local Government Area, where at least five people were killed, including a mobile police officer, according to earlier reports.
That attack occurred on a market day as well, with gunmen looting shops and setting parts of the market on fire before fleeing. An Assistant Superintendent of Police attached to the 13 Police Mobile Force was among those killed.
A former supervisory councillor in Kwande, Lawrence Akerigba, told PREMIUM TIMES that traders were robbed of millions of naira during the Abande attack. Several residents were also reported missing afterward, raising concerns about possible abductions.
Residents of Turan district, which includes the affected communities, said the repeated attacks have forced many families to abandon their homes and farms. Some have fled to neighboring towns, while others are sheltering with relatives.
“The situation is getting worse,” one resident said. “People are no longer safe in their farms or markets. We are living in fear.”
Local farmers say the violence has disrupted agricultural activities, threatening food supply and livelihoods in an area heavily dependent on farming and trade.
Benue State, often referred to as Nigeria’s “food basket,” has for years grappled with violent attacks linked to armed groups, including bandits and militia factions. Rural communities and farming settlements have been particularly vulnerable, with markets increasingly targeted because of their economic importance.
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According to reports by Reuters and the BBC, Benue is among several states in Nigeria’s Middle Belt facing persistent insecurity, driven by a mix of criminal violence, communal tensions, and weak rural security presence. Despite periodic military deployments and police operations, attacks have continued sporadically.
Earlier this year, Nigerian security agencies said they were intensifying patrols and intelligence-led operations across Benue following a series of attacks on villages and highways. However, residents say these measures have yet to translate into lasting security on the ground.
The Benue State government has repeatedly pledged to protect rural communities and restore peace, often following high-profile attacks. Officials have cited collaboration with federal security agencies and neighboring states as part of their strategy.
Yet community leaders argue that the frequency of attacks in Kwande and surrounding areas shows that current measures are insufficient. Civil society groups have also urged authorities to address not only security enforcement but underlying issues such as poor infrastructure, limited intelligence gathering, and slow emergency response.
Security agencies are expected to increase patrols around Kwande Local Government Area in the coming days, though no formal announcement has been made. Local leaders are calling for a sustained security presence, rather than short-term deployments, to reassure residents and deter future attacks.
