Bandits have once again unleashed violence in Benue State, killing three people in the Uikpam community of Mbabai Council Ward, Guma Local Government Area, just a day after three others were murdered in Yelewata within the same LGA.
The attack, confirmed by community leader and former Guma I State Assembly candidate in the 2023 general elections, Jimmin Geoffrey, occurred on Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday morning. Geoffrey disclosed that the body of an elderly resident, Iorhemba Ikpanju, was found in a nearby bush on Wednesday, raising the death toll to three after the earlier killings of Akeh Kelvin and Francis Nomsoor.
According to Geoffrey, the persistent assaults by suspected herdsmen on Guma communities, which share borders with Nasarawa State, continue to undermine efforts to curb insecurity in the area. He urged the authorities to act swiftly, saying, “The discovery of the body of Baba Iorhemba Ikpanju at a nearby bush this morning brings the total casualty figures to three, following the death of Akeh Kelvin and Francis Nomsoor last night when herdsmen attacked the Uikpam community. We again call on concerned authorities to make haste by redeploying security operatives to Uikpam in order to at least repose some level of confidence in the already traumatised residents.”
While the Benue State police command has yet to issue any official statement, ignoring repeated inquiries from the media, Guma Local Government Chairman, Maurice Orwough, has moved to deploy security personnel to the troubled area.
What you should know
Uikpam, like many communities in Guma LGA, has endured repeated attacks by suspected herdsmen, leaving residents in a state of fear and displacement. The region’s proximity to Nasarawa State has made it a hotspot for violent incursions, challenging security efforts.
