Suspected armed herders on Tuesday evening attacked Udeku Maav-Ya community in Mbakyol Council Ward, Turan district of Kwande Local Government Area, Benue State, killing five farmers.
Local sources disclosed that the attack occurred around 4 p.m. while residents were harvesting yams and bambara nuts on their farmlands. The sudden assault reportedly threw the community into panic and disrupted farming activities.
A resident, who identified himself as Terna, said the attackers did not immediately retreat after the incident, creating tension and fear among villagers.
Confirming the killings, the Chairman of Kwande Local Government Area, Tersua Yarkwan, described the area as a vulnerable border community that shares an international boundary with Cameroon. He noted that the difficult terrain has continued to hamper effective security operations.
Yarkwan warned that repeated attacks on farmers during the harvest season pose a serious threat to food security in the area.
Also speaking on the incident, a former Supervisory Councillor in the local government, Akerigba Lawrence, lamented the persistent attacks on the community. He said residents have endured sustained violence, destruction of farmlands, homes, and economic trees, as well as restricted access to water sources.
Lawrence identified three of the victims as Tyozua Gyuse, Gbaga Gyuse, and Tersuur Ijighka, adding that the identities of two others were yet to be confirmed. He further disclosed that search efforts were ongoing for some residents declared missing at the time of filing the report.
According to him, repeated attacks have forced the closure of schools, churches, and markets in the area.
Efforts to reach the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful, as calls to her phone did not connect at the time of filing this report.
The latest attack has once again raised concerns over the influx of armed herders into Benue communities, a situation residents say often escalates during the dry season.
