Residents of Turan district in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State are once again in mourning after suspected armed herdsmen carried out another deadly assault, resulting in the death of two farmers and the abandonment of several villages.
The latest violence was said to have taken place on Wednesday afternoon, starting in Imande Avur before spreading to the nearby communities of Abande and Mbaikyor.
The incident reportedly caused widespread fear, forcing many local residents to flee their homes to avoid further attacks.
The victims of the assault were named as Elder Abur Alam and his son, Ikyaa. Community members described them as harmless farmers who were attacked while working on their farmland.
Confirming this news, a former councilor of Kwande Local Government Area, Mr. Lawrence Akerigba, lamented the persistent insecurity plaguing the district.
“Yesterday there was again a brutal attack on our community. Two innocent farmers were killed, several people have been displaced and fear has taken over the entire area,” Akerigba said.
He explained that the Turan district has been experiencing continuous attacks for approximately two weeks, with frequent killings, destruction of farmland and large-scale displacement of residents.
“Our people are being attacked and killed almost daily. It seems that the government has forgotten about us. These attacks have become frequent, rampant and devastating,” he lamented.
Akerigba further accused security agencies of failing to respond promptly, adding that victims and displaced families have not received any substantial support despite the growing humanitarian crisis.
He called on the government to urgently intervene by safeguarding lives, ending attacks and restoring peace to troubled communities.
Attempts to get confirmation from the Benue State Police Command were unsuccessful as the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, stated that she had not yet been informed about the incident at the time of filing this report.