Scores Feared Dead as Suspected Herdsmen Attack Mararaba Community Near Abuja

Scores Feared Dead as Suspected Herdsmen Attack Mararaba Community Near Abuja

Several persons are feared dead following an attack by suspected herdsmen on Aso A community near Jumai Estate in Mararaba, a boundary area between Abuja and Nasarawa State.

The attack, which reportedly began on Wednesday morning, left no fewer than six people dead, although the exact casualty figure remained uncertain as of press time.

Residents said the violence was sparked by an earlier altercation between a farmer and a herder, which allegedly resulted in the death of the herder. The farmer was said to have fled the area shortly after the incident.

In what appeared to be a reprisal, armed men suspected to be herders reportedly invaded the community, targeting the residence of the fleeing farmer before launching wider attacks on residents. Several houses were set ablaze during the assault.

Eyewitness accounts indicated that attempts by locals to resist the attackers further escalated the violence, leading to more casualties and destruction of property.

A video circulating online showed homes engulfed in flames, while the body of one of the victims was seen being conveyed in a wheelbarrow to a nearby hospital.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said many inhabitants had fled the area for safety. “The entire community has been deserted. People are running to Abuja and other nearby places to save their lives,” the source said.

Security operatives, including a joint team of police and military personnel, were later deployed to the area to restore calm. However, the situation remained tense amid fears of further attacks.

In a related development, a motorcyclist conveying a police officer to the scene was reportedly ambushed and killed by the assailants.

Community leaders warned that tension was still high, with reports suggesting that more armed men could be mobilised from nearby areas, including Keffi, for possible reprisal actions.

Efforts to get an official response from the Aso A Police Division were unsuccessful, as the Divisional Police Officer declined to comment on the incident.