Armed herdsmen launch fresh attack on Benue community, killing 5 farmers

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

Suspected armed herdsmen have launched fresh attack on Udeku Maav-Ya community in Mbakyol Council Ward, Turan district of Kwande Local Government Area, Benue State, killing five farmers.

It was gathered that the attack took place  at about 4 pm yesterday(Tuesday) when residents were harvesting yams and bambara nuts.

The attack, according to one of the villagers who simply identified himself as Terna, disrupted activities in the community.

When contacted, the chairman of Kwande Local Government Area, Tersua Yarkwan, confirmed the killings of the five persons.

Yarkwan explained that the attackers did not immediately withdraw after the deadly attack, which he said caused tension in the area.

He  described the area as a “vulnerable border local government that shares an international boundary with Cameroon”,  stating that the terrain complicates security operations.

The chairman said that the continued attacks during harvest season threaten food security.

Also confirming the incident, a former Supervisory Councillor in the local government, Akerigba Lawrence, decried the constant assault on the community.

He stated that residents of the community constantly faced sustained attacks and destruction of crops, homes, and economic trees, as well as restricted access to water sources.

He identified the victims of the attack to include Tyozua Gyuse, Gbaga Gyuse, and Tersuur Ijighka, adding that the names of two others were yet unknown.

“We have embarked upon search operations  and are ongoing to find some of the residents who had been declared missing at the time of filing this report.

“As I speak with you, schools, churches, and markets have been forced to shut down following repeated attacks”, he said.

All moves to  get reaction from the Benue State police command failed as the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, couldn’t respond to calls and texts sent to her phone at the time of filing this report.

The fresh attack on farmers has triggered concerns over the influx of armed herders in Benue communities, which always happens during the dry season