Five farmers have been killed by suspected armed herders during an attack on Udeku Maav-Ya community in Mbakyol Council Ward, Turan district of Kwande Local Government Area in Benue State.
The incident, it was gathered, occurred on Tuesday evening, January 6, at about 4 pm, while residents were harvesting yams and bambara nuts, according to local accounts.
Community sources said the sudden assault threw the area into panic and brought all farming and social activities to a halt.
Confirming the killings, the Chairman of Kwande Local Government Area, Tersua Yarkwan, said five people lost their lives during the attack.
He explained that the assailants lingered in the community after carrying out the attack, a situation that heightened fear and tension among residents.
Yarkwan described Kwande as a vulnerable border local government that shares an international boundary with Cameroon, noting that the difficult terrain often hampers effective security operations.
He warned that repeated attacks on farmers during the harvest period pose a serious threat to food production and security in the area.
Also speaking on the incident, a former Supervisory Councillor in the local government, Akerigba Lawrence, condemned the persistent violence against the community.
Lawrence said residents have endured repeated assaults, destruction of farmlands, homes and economic trees, as well as restricted access to water sources.
He 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 who were reported missing as of the time of filing this report.
According to Lawrence, the continuous attacks have forced the closure of schools, churches and markets in the affected community.
The latest incident has renewed concerns over the seasonal influx of armed herders into Benue communities, a pattern residents say often worsens during the dry season.
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