Escalating attacks by herdsmen in Benue lead to the abandonment of farming communities

As the agricultural season commences, the residents of Benue State are facing increased anxiety due to the rise in attacks carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

Recent reports from Obasanjonews.com have uncovered that a group of armed herdsmen militia have brutally murdered a total of 28 individuals, which includes six security personnel from the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards and Livestock Guards, in a fresh assault on three communities located in the Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State over the past week.

This wave of violence follows closely on the heels of a mass burial held for 17 victims of previous herdsmen attacks in Mbaikyor Mbalom, Gwer East LGA.

The Chairman of Gwer West LGA, Mr. Henry Agba, verified the tragic incident and mentioned that numerous other individuals sustained injuries during the attacks.

He recounted that the violence began on a Saturday when six security operatives were ambushed and killed while escorting a grieving family to bury their deceased relative in Mbabwande village.

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The following day, another community in Gyaluwa was attacked at 11 pm resulting in the deaths of 14 people.

The violence continued into Monday when a village along the Naka/Adoka road was targeted, leading to the discovery of six dead bodies so far, with many others sustaining injuries and currently receiving medical treatment at various clinics within the LGA.

In a separate distressing event, bandits launched attacks on approximately nine communities in the Apa Local Government Area of the state, resulting in fatalities and the destruction of homes.

While some locals estimated the casualty count at 25, the state Assembly representative for the area, Abu Umoru, expressed his inability to accurately determine the total number of casualties, emphasizing that a significant portion of the community has been displaced due to the violence.