Suspected armed kerders kill four, injured 10 in fresh Benue attacks

Fresh violence has erupted in parts of Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, where suspected armed herders reportedly killed four people and injured 10 others in separate attacks over two days.

Residents said the violence began on Thursday when armed attackers invaded farmlands in Anyiase, Moon Council Ward, and opened fire on farmers working on their fields.

A community leader and survivor, Terzungwe Ajir, said the attack occurred at about 3:20 p.m., killing two farmers, identified as Asongo Nagwebe and Tarzan Agbahegh, at the scene.

Ajir added that 10 other victims sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to a medical facility in Jato-Aka for treatment.

According to him, one of the injured victims later died while being transferred to Makurdi for specialised medical care, raising the death toll from the attack to three.

The community leader further alleged that the attackers struck again over the weekend, ambushing a commercial vehicle at Ikyogen Junction as residents fled the affected communities.

He said the gunmen opened fire on the vehicle, killing one passenger instantly, while other occupants escaped into nearby bushes.

Ajir said the renewed attacks have worsened the humanitarian situation in the area, forcing many residents to flee their homes over fears of further violence.

“Our people have continued to live in fear. These attacks have persisted, and many families have now fled to safer locations,” he said.

Efforts to reach the Chairman of Kwande Local Government Area, Vitalis Neji, for comment were unsuccessful, as calls to his mobile phone went unanswered before the time of filing this report.

Similarly, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, did not respond to telephone calls or a text message seeking confirmation of the incidents as of the time this report was filed.