From: Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
At least five farmers were on Tuesday evening killed by alleged suspected armed assailants in a renewed attack on Udeku Maav-Ya community in Mbakyol Council Ward, Turan district of Kwande Local Government Area, Benue State.
The attack, which occurred at about 4pm when the residents were harvesting yams and bambara nuts, triggered fresh fears and concerns over food production and security this year 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 international boundary with Cameroon, noting that its rough terrain complicates security operations.
Yarkwan warned that the continued attacks during harvest season, threatens 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 alleged that residents have experienced sustained threat occasioned by shootings, destruction of crops, homes, and economic trees, as well as restricted access to water sources.
Efforts to get comments from Police Spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful as at press time as she failed to pick her call or respond to message sent to her phone.
