MAKURDI — At least 12 people have been confirmed dead and many others left with life-threatening injuries following a fresh wave of attacks by suspected armed herders on the Tyungu Jam and Mbaav communities in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
The coordinated assault, which occurred on Thursday, targeted the Yaav and Mbadura Council Wards, forcing hundreds of villagers to flee into nearby forests for safety.
Panic in Turan
Survivors described a harrowing scene that began early Thursday morning. According to local sources, the attackers moved from house to house, catching many residents off guard.
“The situation is extremely dire. Men, women, and children were fleeing in different directions as homes were set ablaze,” a resident of Mbaav, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, told reporters. “The community felt completely abandoned despite the supposed presence of security personnel in the area.”
Locals have identified ten of the victims as Shagba Tyokase, Shagba Terease, Liambee Yohane, Tordue Dooshima, Tordue Doove, Liamkpur Aondosoo, Akule John, Adezamber Gyuse, Terundu Tyozuur, and one other yet to be named. Six others are currently receiving emergency treatment for gunshot and machete wounds.
Governor Alia Reacts
Reacting to the killings on Friday, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the violence in strong terms, describing it as “senseless and unacceptable.”
In a statement issued by his Technical Adviser on Media and Publicity, Solomon Iorpev, the Governor expressed deep frustration that such an attack could occur despite the recent deployment of over 400 security personnel to Jato Aka and surrounding areas.
“The killing in Kwande LG is barbaric. Every life matters, and the loss of even one soul is too many,” Alia stated. He further directed security agencies to intensify their operations to apprehend the perpetrators and forestall a total breakdown of law and order in the Turan axis.
Security Concerns Heighten
The latest killings underscore the persistent insecurity in Kwande LGA, which has seen repeated clashes and ambushes in recent months. Locals lamented that the attack on Mbaav village, located near the popular Jato Aka market, happened even with military units stationed in the general area.
Search parties are reportedly still combing the bushes to recover missing persons, with fears that the death toll may rise as more bodies are discovered.
As of Saturday morning, a uneasy calm has returned to the affected wards, though most residents remain in hiding or have relocated to safer towns.
