Tragedy Strikes Again as Suspected Herdsmen K!ll Young Man, Iortim Terfa, in Benue State – Barely a Year After He Lost Two Sisters

 

Heartbreak and sorrow have once again hit a family in Benue State, following the tragic and senseless killing of a young man identified as Iortim Terfa. According to reports, Terfa was allegedly attacked and k!lled by suspected Fulani herdsmen on Thursday, May 15, 2025, while he was on his way home after visiting his sick mother who had been hospitalized in Makurdi, the capital city of Benue State.

The incident has thrown the entire community and the victim’s family into deep mourning, especially considering that this is not the first tragedy to strike them. Just last year, the same family had to endure the painful loss of two young daughters, making this latest event even more devastating.

The heartbreaking news was confirmed by the deceased’s elder brother, Iortim Jerome Terna, who took to Facebook to express his overwhelming grief and shock. In a deeply emotional post, he wrote:

“REST IN PEACE MY BELOVED BROTHER. I've just received devastating news that my immediate younger brother, Terfa, is killed by Fulani herdsmen an hour ago. This tragedy comes barely a year after I lost two young sisters. I'm consumed by grief, but I trust in God's sovereignty. RIP Iortim Terfa”

His words paint a vivid picture of a man completely overwhelmed by the cruel hand of fate—struggling to cope with the fact that, in the space of just one year, he has had to say goodbye to three siblings. The pain of losing one family member is already heavy; losing three in such a short time is almost unbearable.

Eyewitness accounts and reports from locals suggest that Terfa may have been targeted while walking along a less crowded route on the outskirts of Makurdi. The assailants, believed to be part of the ongoing wave of violent herdsmen attacks in the state, reportedly ambushed him without warning.

Benue State has long been one of the regions hardest hit by herdsmen-farmer clashes, with countless lives lost over the years in what seems like an unending cycle of violence. This latest killing has once again brought attention to the urgent need for better security measures and effective government intervention in these troubled areas.

Many Nigerians on social media have been reacting to the news with anger, sorrow, and frustration, calling on the authorities to put an end to the senseless killings and ensure that justice is served for victims like Iortim Terfa.

As the Terfa family prepares to bury yet another loved one, the community mourns alongside them. It’s a painful reminder of how insecurity continues to shatter the lives of innocent citizens who are simply going about their day-to-day lives.

At NaijaRush, our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of Iortim Terfa. May his soul rest in peace, and may those responsible for this act face justice.