Cleric, Three Others Killed in Fresh Attack on Benue Community

Four people, including a pastor, were killed in an attack on Abeda Shitile community in Benue State.

According to Donjoe Media findings, the attack did not happen on Thursday, November 5. It happened on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at about 5 p.m. It happened on the community’s market day, in Gaambe-Tiev Ward, Logo Local Government Area.

Traders and residents were preparing to leave the market when gunmen opened fire.

The Chairman of Logo LGA, Clement Kav, confirmed the incident to Leadership on Wednesday. He said:

“The suspected local bandits invaded Abeda Shitile, Mbavuur, Gaambe-Tiev on Tuesday on market day and started shooting. I can confirm that four were killed and five injured and are receiving treatment in the hospital.”

Kav named those killed as Msoo Chan, Suurshater Iornumbe, Terkimbi Ikyereve, and Pastor Terungwa Hungwa.

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Other reports, including Vanguard, Punch, and Daily Post, gave slightly different spellings for two of the victims: Pastor Terungwa Tyonungo and Dodo Shingir, instead of Terkimbi Ikyereve. Donjoe Media is using the Chairman’s list as the primary list, because he spoke on record as the LGA chairman, but we note the difference in spellings in other reports.

The injured, according to the Chairman, are Gangera Kumater Miracle, Helen Iortyom, Terungwa Tsetim, Kumater Awua, and Orkertyo Iortyom.

There is a casualty discrepancy that must be stated clearly:

• Logo LGA Chairman: 4 killed, 5 injured
• Community residents / other media reports: 4 killed, 8 injured
• Benue Police, DSP Peter Aondongu: 3 killed, 2 injured. Police said 5 people were initially injured while being taken to hospital, 3 died on the way, 2 are receiving treatment.

Donjoe Media reports the Chairman’s figure as the most authoritative local government confirmation so far, while noting the Police figure is lower.

A community leader who spoke on condition of anonymity said the attack started around a Point-of-Sale shop owned by Ernest Atindi Tor in the Ikyô Tor Dukur area, before the gunmen advanced toward the motor park along Afia Road. The attack lasted for over two hours, according to residents.

A youth leader, James Gbor, said the attackers came on motorcycles and shot at people in the market. He alleged the attack followed the killing of a suspected armed group leader known as Swaga by security operatives a few weeks earlier. He also alleged that a Mobile Police unit stationed in the community did not intervene, although officers fired shots into the air.

Donjoe Media cannot independently verify the motive or the allegation about the police unit. No arrest has been reported.

Residents said the attackers appeared more interested in killing people than stealing property. Their identities have not been independently established. They were described in different reports as suspected armed herders and suspected local bandits. Donjoe Media is not presenting either label as confirmed.

The bodies have been recovered and deposited at a mortuary in the area. The injured are receiving treatment.

Logo LGA has suffered repeated attacks. This latest attack has renewed fear among farmers and traders who depend on the Tuesday market. Many residents are now afraid to go to their farms during harvest season.

In a separate development in Benue, the six abducted mourners who were kidnapped while transporting a corpse from Kano to Benue for burial regained freedom on Tuesday night. The Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed they were released after ransom payment. Donjoe Media is not linking the two incidents, except that both happened in Benue on the same day.

The Benue State government has not yet issued an official statement on the Abeda Shitile attack as of the time of filing.

Donjoe Media will update this report when the Police or the Benue State government gives a reconciled casualty figure and confirms any arrest.

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By Jonadab Oluikpe
Publish by Donjoe Media