Gunmen attack Benue communities, kill five residents

Fresh waves of attacks have rocked some communities in Benue State, resulting in the killing of five people in separate incidents attributed to suspected armed herders in the state.

Reports indicate that the attacks, which occurred over the last 72 hours, have sparked widespread fear and panic in the affected areas, causing many residents to flee their homes in search of safety.

An eyewitness reported that a middle-aged man was killed while riding his motorbike along the Agagbe-Abian road in Gwer West LGA. As of the time of this report, the identity of the victim had not been confirmed.

The source also stated that the man’s body was later taken to a mortuary in Agagbe town, expressing shock and renewed fears about the safety of the road, which is one of the busiest routes leading to Naka and other neighboring communities.

“That route is one of the busiest in this area because it is the route to Naka and other bordering communities, but with this development, people are now scared of plying the road alone,” the eyewitness shared.

In another incident, four women were reportedly killed at the border between Benue and Nasarawa states, specifically within the Mbayer/Yandev Council Ward area.

Sources said that the women were murdered at a fish pond located in a settlement on the border, near Yandev Mbagwen in Guma LGA.

A local resident explained that the women were fishing, fetching water, and washing clothes at the pond when the herders arrived with their cattle. The herders reportedly attempted to chase the women away before attacking and killing them in cold blood.

“The women were at the pond to fish, get water, and wash clothes when the herders came with their cows. And they made attempts to chase the women away from the pond after which they attacked and killed them in cold blood,” the source explained.

This attack has further heightened tensions in the already volatile border communities, especially with the increasing influx of herders from neighboring Nasarawa State as the dry season intensifies.

“This incident has also thrown the entire community into mourning. People are now afraid to go to their farms or fishing areas for fear of attack,” the source added.

Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, for a comment were unsuccessful at the time of this report. (The Witness)