Benue Attack December 14: Residents Report Early-Morning Raid and Mass Kidnapping

Fear and Flight in Benue: Residents Cry for Help After Early-Morning Attack and Mass Kidnapping


Residents of a community in Benue State have raised alarm following a violent attack that reportedly occurred in the early hours of Sunday, December 14.


According to eyewitness accounts and a video shared by locals, armed bandits allegedly stormed the village before daybreak, moving swiftly through homes and forcing residents into panic. The attack, residents say, lasted only a short time but left lasting damage.


In the video circulating online, villagers could be heard describing how the attackers arrived when most people were still asleep. Residents claim that about forty people were kidnapped, including men and women, as the assailants moved house to house.

With no immediate resistance or security presence, villagers said many residents fled into nearby bushes and unknown locations to escape being abducted.

Some families have reportedly been separated, with relatives still missing hours after the incident.


Following the attack, the affected village reportedly became almost deserted. Residents said fear of a second strike forced many to abandon their homes entirely. Local accounts describe, empty compounds, scattered belongings, families hiding in forests and neighboring communities. 

Parents and elderly residents were said to be among those struggling the most, with limited access to food, shelter, and communication.


In their messages, residents made a direct appeal to the Benue State Government, federal security agencies and emergency and humanitarian bodies


Their demands are immediate security deployment, rescue efforts for abducted victims, protection for displaced residents and long-term security presence


Nevertheless, many villagers expressed frustration that rural communities continue to face repeated attacks with little warning or protection.



    The Benue incident adds to ongoing concerns about rural insecurity across parts of Nigeria, where communities often feel exposed during early-morning or late-night attacks.

Residents insist that without urgent intervention, more villages could face similar attacks, deepening displacement and fear across the region.

For now, families wait, hoping for news of their loved ones and for decisive action that will restore safety to their community.

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