Suspected herdsmen have launched a deadly attack on Ikobi-Ochekwu community in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, resulting in multiple casualties, including a soldier who had recently gotten married.

The attack, which occurred late Wednesday night and continued for several hours, saw the assailants storming the village under the cover of darkness, shooting indiscriminately at residents and setting houses ablaze.

According to Ochofie, a resident who spoke to reporters, the attack was sustained and brutal. "The attackers came in the night and began shooting everywhere. Many people fled into the bush while some couldn't escape," he stated.

The full extent of casualties remains unclear as many residents are still reported missing. However, authorities confirmed that two more bodies were discovered in nearby Ijaha community on Thursday morning, identified as Sani Ngbede and Aduba Paul Ogboyi.

Among the victims was a soldier who had reportedly celebrated his wedding recently. The identity of the slain military personnel and other victims have yet to be officially confirmed by security authorities.

This attack adds to the growing list of violent incidents in Benue State, which has long been a flashpoint for farmer-herder conflicts. The state government has repeatedly called for increased security measures to protect vulnerable communities.

As of the time of this report, neither the police nor military authorities have issued an official statement regarding the incident. Local sources indicate that some survivors have fled to neighboring communities seeking refuge.

Security experts have called for urgent intervention to prevent further escalation of violence in the region, which has seen similar attacks in recent months.