Tensions escalated in Benue State on Thursday as youths from Tse Orjime community carried the corpses of three slain farmers to the residence of their state legislator and set his house ablaze, following a deadly attack by suspected armed herdsmen.

The incident occurred after suspected armed herdsmen killed three villagers working on their farms in Tse Orjime community, Agan, in Mbalagh Council Ward of Makurdi Local Government Area on May 29, 2025.

According to eyewitnesses, the attackers later invaded the community around 5 pm, firing sporadically, which forced residents to flee their homes in panic. Many villagers escaped through the Makurdi-Daudu highway and into the North Bank area of Makurdi, approximately three kilometres from the scene of the attack.

After the assailants retreated, community youths recovered the three bodies from the farms and carried them on foot to the residence of Hon. Alfred Berger, the member representing Makurdi North in the Benue State House of Assembly. In a dramatic display of anger and frustration, the protesters then set fire to the lawmaker's house.

The youth's actions appear to be a protest against what they perceive as continued government inaction in addressing the persistent security challenges posed by armed herdsmen in the area. The community has reportedly suffered repeated attacks, contributing to growing frustration among residents.

This incident comes amid ongoing tensions between farming communities and herders in Benue State, which has witnessed numerous violent clashes over the years. The state, known as Nigeria's food basket, has implemented anti-open grazing laws in an attempt to manage the conflict, but attacks have continued.

As of the time of reporting, neither Hon. Berger nor state security agencies have issued official statements regarding the attack or the subsequent protest action. The situation remains tense as residents continue to express concerns about their safety.

This latest violence highlights the continuing security challenges in Nigeria's Middle Belt region, where competition for land and resources between predominantly Christian farmers and mainly Muslim herders has led to thousands of deaths in recent years.