15 Killed in Benue State Attack as PDP Accuses Governor of Security Failure

Deadly violence erupted in separate conflicts Wednesday in Nigeria’s Benue State and India’s Manipur state, while Israeli forces cut power to three Palestinian communities in the West Bank and ongoing fighting continued to drive acute food insecurity in parts of Niger.

Benue State Attack and Political Fallout

Fifteen people were killed in an attack on the Efeyi Ugboju community in Otukpo LGA of Benue State on Tuesday. The opposition PDP accused Governor Hyacinth Alia of ineffective leadership and weak security responses. The state PDP publicity secretary, Bright Antyo, lamented that communities were repeatedly attacked while government’s responses remained reactive, weak and largely ineffective. “Leadership is not by words but by decisive action, empathy and the ability to inspire confidence in times of crisis,” he said. [1] The PDP’s governorship candidate, Michael Aondoakaa, accused the Alia administration of criminalising criticisms to escape responsibility for his government’s failure on security. Aondoakaa described as “shameful that a government under whose watch communities are repeatedly invaded, farmers displaced, and innocent people killed now considers criticism of its woeful performance a greater threat than the criminals unleashing terror across the state.” [1] He said the acclaimed efforts of the state government were not effective, reason that Benue communities were still under severe attacks. [1]

Governor Alia’s administration rejected the criticism as politicisation of insecurity. Alia berated the PDP and its governorship candidates for politicising the insecurity in the state, describing it as “irresponsible.” In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, Alia said the blood of the people being spilt, the grief of bereaved families, the trauma of survivors, and the many other losses required compassion, urgent action, and unity, not sarcastic profiteering. “At a moment like this, what our people expect and deserve is responsible leadership and constructive oversight,” the statement read. [1] The administration stated that it has provided logistical assistance, intelligence collaboration, personnel motivation and coordination with vigilantes to security agencies. Confirmation by security chiefs abounds to the effect that Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration is consistently providing tangible support to security agencies through logistical assistance, intelligence collaboration, personnel motivation, and coordination with local vigilantes to protect communities and restore peace. [1]

Gunfight in Manipur Leaves One Dead

One person was killed and five injured, including two CRPF CoBRA commandos, during a gunfight between security forces and Naga volunteers in Bitiang, Noney district of Manipur on Wednesday. Officials said the search operation was being conducted during a shutdown call given by a Naga body against an alleged commando action over village volunteers at Bitiang in the ethnic violence-hit state’s Noney district. [2] Three injured people were shifted to Noney district hospital while the two CRPF personnel were taken to a CRPF camp in Imphal. Officials aware of the matter said the personnel belonged to CRPF CoBRA commando unit. [2] According to local residents, the encounter took place when a CRPF’s commando unit was carrying out an operation at a Naga Village Guard training camp on Wednesday. A joint security team, including dog squads, continued the search operation in the area till 4pm but no individuals were apprehended. A case has been registered at Khoupum police station in connection with the gunfight. [2]

The Working Committee of the Joint Tribes Council-Manipur announced the shutdown across Naga-inhabited areas, accusing the CRPF unit of an “unprovoked and cowardly attack” and alleged collusion with a Naga insurgent outfit, Zeliangrong United Front-Jenchui. Officials said additional security forces, including Rapid Action Force and state police, have been deployed to control the situation. [2]

Israeli Forces Cut Power to West Bank Villages

The Israeli army targeted a main transformer during a raid, cutting electricity to the West Bank communities of Turmus Ayya and two neighboring villages. Local sources said electricity was cut to Turmus Ayya and two neighboring villages during the army raid. [4]

Food Insecurity Persists in Conflict-hit Niger Regions

Persistent conflict in Niger’s Tillabéry, Diffa and parts of Tahoua regions is expected to maintain Crisis (IPC Phase 3) food insecurity outcomes through January 2027. Des résultats de Crise (Phase 3 de l’IPC) devraient persister dans les régions de Tillabéry et de Diffa, ainsi que dans la partie nord-ouest de Tahoua, jusqu’en janvier 2027. [3] The forecast is compounded by seasonal flooding that disrupts livelihoods, market access and farming. De juin à septembre, les effets cumulés de la persistance de l’insécurité et des inondations saisonnières continueront de perturber les moyens d’existence, de restreindre l’accès aux champs et aux marchés. [3]

Broader Context of West Bank Violence

A Middle East Eye opinion piece argues that in less than 24 hours last week, four Palestinians were killed and several were injured across the occupied West Bank, as settler attacks spread to multiple villages, leaving homes, vehicles and other property damaged and burned. [5] The piece states that in the village of Tell, southwest of Nablus, the four Palestinians were killed on Friday in a settler attack, which also resulted in the deaths of two settlers. Hours later, Israeli forces raided a Nablus hospital to arrest two Palestinians, one of whom was being treated for a gunshot wound, while military closures and checkpoints sealed off large parts of the city and surrounding villages. [5] It notes that over the past few days, Palestinians requiring life-saving dialysis have been unable to reach treatment, women in labour have been prevented from crossing military checkpoints to access hospitals, while ambulances have been blocked from reaching patients due to road closures. [5] The restrictions have thus disrupted access to emergency care, further undermining the necessary conditions for Palestinian survival. [5]

The opinion piece attributes the death of three-month-old Ahmad Zaid earlier this month to movement restrictions, stating the infant was being rushed to hospital when his family’s passage was blocked at an Israeli military gate near Deir Ammar refugee camp, northwest of Ramallah. [5] It cites OCHA data that around 12,000 Palestinians in communities west of Ramallah were effectively isolated by the cumulative closures of access routes. [5] The author views these factors, including settlement expansion and displacement of at least 45 Palestinian communities since 2023, as undermining conditions for Palestinian survival. [5]

What to watch next: Crisis (IPC Phase 3) food insecurity outcomes are forecast to persist in Niger’s Tillabéry, Diffa and northwest Tahoua regions through January 2027 due to ongoing conflict and seasonal flooding.