Farmers Flee As Armed Groups Attack Communities in Benue State
Farmers from Anyase and Ikyoawen, located in the Moon Assembly Area of Kwande Local Government in Benue State, are fleeing in large numbers following a series of brutal ambushes that left four individuals dead. The attacks occurred early Friday morning and are believed to have been carried out by armed groups linked to roaming herdsmen.
Community leader Lawrence Akerigba provided insights during a telephone interview with Business Day, revealing that the assaults were unprovoked and led to numerous injuries among the local population, including women and children. However, comprehensive details about the casualties are still being gathered.
Akerigba reported that the attackers initially targeted farmers in Anyase before advancing to Ikyoawen, where they shot and killed four farmers tending to their fields. Three of these fatalities occurred on-site, underscoring the severity of the violence. The situation worsened when two additional individuals were gravely injured in Ikyoawen and required urgent medical attention.
One of these injured individuals, a man, was later taken to Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi but was declared dead upon arrival, raising the death toll to four. Security personnel, along with local youth, are currently searching the surrounding areas for more victims.
As local residents sought refuge in the early hours of Friday, gunmen emerged from the underbrush, blocking the Ikyoawen Junction and opening fire on vehicles attempting to flee. The attackers also hijacked motorbikes from their owners, escalating the chaos and fear in the community.
Akerigba condemned the situation, arguing that the government is favoring pastoralists over farmers. He emphasized that the differential treatment has created a climate of fear and frustration among the agricultural community, leading them to feel like “second-class citizens.” This disparity has raised questions about the government’s commitment to law and order.
He pointed to a recent murder of Mr. Aldo Risk as an example of the ongoing violence affecting farmers. Akerigba lamented that while the government swiftly condemned the killing of a herdsman, similar tragedies affecting farmers often go unnoticed. He articulated a plea for both state and federal governments to recognize farmers’ constitutional rights to safety and protection.
Farmers are growing increasingly impatient, demanding that the government takes decisive action to ensure their security. As the agricultural season progresses with planting of crops like bambara nuts, yams, and rice, many are unable to access their lands due to the ongoing threats. Akerigba recalled that just a few days prior, over 15 farmers were killed in the Sai community of Katsina-Ala, yet the federal government responded with silence. Efforts to obtain a statement from the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful at the time of this report.
