Gunmen believed to be herders have reportedly killed 13 people in another violent assault on a community in Benue State, deepening fears over the deteriorating security situation in the area.
The attackers were said to have stormed Anwase Market in Mbaikyor, within Kwande Local Government Area, where they abducted several market women before setting the market on fire.
Speaking with Channels Television on Friday via telephone, Ibi Andrew, an aide to the Kwande Local Government Chairman, Vitalis Neji, confirmed that 13 persons lost their lives during the attack.
According to Ibi, the local government chairman, in collaboration with security agencies, has moved to the affected community to restore calm and prevent further violence against residents.
An eyewitness recounted that the assailants descended on the community from a nearby mountain, firing shots indiscriminately, which triggered panic among traders and residents. The attackers reportedly went on to torch market stalls and abduct women before fleeing back towards the mountainous area.
As of the time of filing this report, the Benue State Police Command had not officially confirmed the incident. Repeated attempts to reach the command’s spokesperson, Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful, as messages sent to her phone were not returned.
Abande Community Attack
The latest incident occurred barely two days after a similar attack on Abande community, also in Kwande Local Government Area.
During that assault, at least 16 people were reportedly killed when suspected armed herdsmen attacked the settlement.
Residents said the attack took place on Tuesday afternoon at the Abande market while traders and buyers were actively engaged in commercial activities.
Eyewitnesses explained that the attackers invaded the market, opened fire on civilians, looted shops, and set parts of the market ablaze, causing chaos and heavy casualties.
A community leader and former supervisory councillor in Kwande LGA, Lawrence Akerigba, said the assailants made away with millions of naira from traders before burning down the market.
He noted that the attack occurred on Abande’s market day, when a large number of people had gathered to buy and sell goods.
Akerigba added that the attackers looted shops and carted away significant sums of money, and disclosed that by 11:55 pm, bodies of some of the victims were being transported to Jato-Aka by personnel of the Mobile Police Force stationed in the area.
He further stated that in addition to civilian casualties, a mobile police officer, reportedly the unit commander on duty at the time of the attack, was also killed.
According to him, several residents remain unaccounted for, with search efforts still ongoing.
He lamented that the repeated attacks had forced many residents to flee their homes and instilled widespread fear across Turan and neighbouring communities. Akerigba said the situation underscored the worsening insecurity in the area, stressing that residents had no clear place of refuge or assurance of protection as attacks continued unabated.
What you should know
Benue State has witnessed repeated attacks linked to suspected armed herders, particularly in Kwande Local Government Area.
Markets have increasingly become targets, leading to mass casualties, abductions, destruction of livelihoods, and displacement of residents.
The recent incidents in Anwase and Abande communities highlight ongoing security challenges in rural Benue, with residents expressing fear and uncertainty amid what they describe as inadequate protection and delayed official responses from security authorities.
