Gunmen invade Benue communities, kill 4

• The communities, Mbachon and Mbagbe communities in Turan, Yaav Council Ward, came under attack about 5 pm on Saturday

Gunmen suspected to be armed herders wreaking havoc in Benue State have struck again.

At least four people were killed when the gunmen attacked communities in Kwande Local Government Area of the State.

The communities, Mbachon and Mbagbe communities in Turan, Yaav Council Ward, came under attack about 5 pm on Saturday.

It was gathered that the incident happened when people were retiring to their various compounds.

A local, Lawrence Akerigba, said the gunmen invaded the communities, shot and killed four people.

He said the killings were happening again because the farming season has begun, calling on the security agencies to do something about the attacks in order to prevent the disruption of farming activities.

“They stormed the two communities at about 5pm and opened fire on people. When the dust was down, four persons were shot and killed,” he said.

Akerigba said that one corpse was evacuated for burial, while three were missing and another person was taken away.

It was also learned that Kwande Local Government Area shares a boundary with Taraba State and has been under herdsmen attacks for 15 years.

Akerigba said: “In Moon District, Kwande Local Government Area, the people have had no access to their land for 16 years as it has been completely overrun by herdsmen who have turned it into grazing for their animals.

“The killings are happening now that farming activities have resumed, saying if nothing was done, it will disrupt farming activities now that rains have set in and appealing to security agencies to protect harmless farmers to return to their farm business so that hunger will not kill them.”