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Fresh waves of attacks have unsettled some communities in Benue State, with reports of the killing of five persons and abduction of another in separate incursions by suspected armed herdsmen in Makurdi, Guma and Gwer West Local Government Areas, LGAs, of the state.
It was gathered that the incidents recorded in the last 72 hours triggered fear and pandemonium in the affected communities, forcing the locals to flee their homes.
According to an eyewitness, a middle-aged man was reportedly killed while riding his motorbike along the Agagbe-Abian road in Gwer West LGA. The victim’s identity had not been confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
The source, who disclosed that the deceased’s body was later evacuated to a mortuary in Agagbe town, expressed shock over the incident and renewed fears about safety along the busy route.
“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,” he said.
It was also gathered that in a separate development, four women were reportedly killed at the border between Benue and Nasarawa states, within the Mbayer/Yandev Council Ward area.
According to sources from the area, the women were allegedly murdered in a fish pond located in a border settlement around Yandev Mbagwen, in Guma LGA.
A resident of the area disclosed that the attack was carried out by suspected armed herdsmen, who met the women at the pond when they invaded the area with their cattle.
He said, “The women were at the pond to fish, get water and wash cloths 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 attack has heightened tension in the already volatile border communities particularly with the influx of herders into several communities from neighbouring Nasarawa State since the dry season began.
“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,” he added.
Meanwhile, in another incident reported in Makurdi LGA, a man simply identified as Gbawuan from Mbalagh Council Ward was allegedly abducted Thursday afternoon by armed herdsmen.
According to a local, Gbawuan was travelling from Makurdi through the Zongo-Rukubi road when he was intercepted and seized near the Ndor signpost.
“Those who witnessed the incident said the attackers emerged suddenly and forced him away before help could arrive,” the source said.
He stated that security operatives in the area were reportedly alerted immediately and they launched a rescue operation, but as of the time of this report, the victim had not been found.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, could not be reached at the time of this report.
