Five farmers were killed on Tuesday evening when suspected armed herders attacked Udeku Maav-Ya community in Mbakyol Council Ward, Turan district of Kwande Local Government Area, Benue State, disrupting ongoing harvest activities in the border community.
The attack, which occurred at about 4pm happened while residents were harvesting yams and bambara nuts, has triggered fresh concerns over food production and security in one of Benue’s major agrarian areas.
Chairman of Kwande Local Government Area, Tersua Yarkwan, who confirmed the killings of the five persons said the attackers did not immediately withdraw after the assault, worsening tension in the area.
He described Kwande as a vulnerable border local government that shares an international boundary with Cameroon, noting that its rugged terrain complicates security operations.
Yarkwan warned that the continued attacks during harvest season threaten food security, stressing that farming activities have been severely disrupted as residents now avoid their farms out of fear.
Also speaking, a former Supervisory Councillor in the local government, Akerigba Lawrence, said the community was unprepared for the assault and alleged that residents have faced sustained pressure marked by shootings, destruction of crops, homes, and economic trees, as well as restricted access to water sources.
He disclosed that those confirmed killed include Tyozua Gyuse, Gbaga Gyuse, and Tersuur Ijighka, adding that the names of two others were yet unknown while search operations were ongoing as some residents remained missing at the time of filing this report.
Lawrence said schools, churches, and markets have been forced to shut down following repeated attacks, while lamenting the absence of sustained security intervention.
Efforts to get comments from Police Spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful as of press time.
