Harvest Turns Into Tragedy As Daredevil Gunmen K!ll Five Farmers In Fresh Benue Attack

At least five farmers were reportedly k!lled on Tuesday evening when suspected armed herders attacked Udeku Maav-Ya community in Mbakyol Council Ward, Turan district, Benue State’s Kwande Local Government Area.

According to the PUNCH, sources said the attack occurred at about 4pm yesterday while residents were on their farms harvesting yams and bambara nuts.

A resident of the community, who identified himself simply as Terna, said the assault threw the entire area into panic, forcing farmers and residents to flee for safety.

“The attack happened when people were harvesting yams and bambara nuts. Activities in the community were completely disrupted,” he said.

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Kwande Local Government Area, Tersua Yarkwan, said five persons lost their lives in the attack.

He explained that the attackers did not immediately withdraw after carrying out the assault, a situation that heightened tension in the community.

“The attackers did not leave the area immediately after the attack, which caused serious tension among residents,” Yarkwan said.

The council chairman described Kwande as a vulnerable border local government that shares an international boundary with Cameroon, noting that the difficult terrain continues to hamper effective security operations.

He warned that repeated attacks on farmers during harvest season pose a serious threat to food security in the state and beyond.

“These attacks are happening during harvest and that is dangerous for our food security,” he lamented.

Also speaking on the incident, a former Supervisory Councillor in the local government, Akerigba Lawrence, decried what he described as sustained assaults on Udeku Maav-Ya community.

According to him, residents have repeatedly suffered attacks that have resulted in the destruction of crops, homes and economic trees, as well as restricted access to water sources.

“Our people are constantly under attack. Farms are destroyed, houses are burnt, economic trees are cut down, and access to water has been blocked,” Lawrence said.

Lawrence identified three of the victims as Tyozua Gyuse, Gbaga Gyuse and Tersuur Ijighka, adding that the identities of two other victims were yet to be confirmed as of the time of filing this report.

He also disclosed that search operations were ongoing to locate some residents who were declared missing after the attack.

According to him, repeated attacks have forced schools, churches and markets in the community to shut down, worsening the humanitarian situation in the area.

The Benue State police command was yet to issue any official statement regarding the latest development as of the time of filing this report.