By Peter Duru, Makurdi
Suspected armed herders have reportedly killed four persons and injured 10 others in renewed attacks on communities in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
The attacks, which lasted two days, targeted farmers working on their farmlands in Anyiase, Moon Council Ward, and later passengers attempting to flee the affected communities.
A community elder and survivor, Terzungwe Ajir, told journalists that the first attack occurred at about 3:20 p.m. on Thursday when the assailants invaded farmlands in Anyiase and opened fire on farmers.
He said two farmers, identified as Asongo Nagwebe and Tarzan Agbahegh, were killed in the attack, while 10 others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
According to Ajir, the injured victims were taken to a hospital in Jato-Aka for treatment, with some said to be in critical condition.
He disclosed that one of the injured victims later died while being referred from Jato-Aka to Makurdi for advanced medical care, bringing the death toll from Thursday’s attack to three.
The violence reportedly continued on Friday morning when the suspected attackers blocked the road at Ikyogen Junction and opened fire on a commercial bus conveying residents fleeing the troubled communities.
One passenger was reportedly killed on the spot, while other occupants of the vehicle escaped into nearby bushes.
Describing the situation, Ajir said the attacks had thrown the communities into panic, forcing many residents to flee their homes.
“It has been a horrifying two days for our people, who have not known peace in a long time,” he said.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Chairman of Kwande Local Government Area, Vitalis Neji, were unsuccessful as he could not be reached at the time of filing this report.
Similarly, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, did not respond to calls seeking confirmation of the attacks or details of the police response before press time.
