The renewed attacks on Benue communities have raised fresh concerns among natives and stakeholders.
This comes amid revelation by the member representing Kwande/Ushongo federal constituency of Benue State, Hon. Terseer Ugbor that armed Fulani herdsmen had taken over 40% of farmlands in the state.
The lawmaker, who disclosed this during an interactive chat with journalists, raised concern over fresh attacks by Fulani militias which has led to the killing and displacement of several persons in Kwande LGA.
He said, “The major problem with this issue is the food insecurity that it is going to bring especially on our people in Benue and Nigeria as a whole because as of the last information we have, over 40 percent of the arable farmlands in Benue State have been taken over by the Fulani bandits”.
Hon Ugbor recalled the attack by Fulani herdsmen during the 2024 Christmas on Kwande Local Government, which is a border community with Cameroon.
He said it got so bad that the bandits had the audacity to attack an immigration outpost and the only standing security presence in the community with Cameroon and burnt it down.
Ugbor revealed that, “The immigration outpost did not necessarily have equipment or arms to defend itself.”
Apart from the attack on Kwande council area, six persons were also killed by suspected herdsmen in Okpamaju community of Okete Ward and Asa settlement of Ewulo Ward of Otukpo Local Government Area of the State.
The incident, which occurred during a hunting expedition in the community, also forced women and children to flee from the affected communities for fear of being killed by the rampaging herdsmen.
Confirming the attacks, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene described the violence as caused by alleged open grazing on a farm in the area.
According to her, the villagers complained about grazing on their farms, which subsequently led to the clash that claimed two lives.
DAILY POST reports that Benue State has been under attack by suspected herdsmen in the last decade.
