Bandits Kill 12, Abduct Several Children In Benue

Palpable fear has gripped the people of Yaav and Mbakyol wads of Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, who are fleeing in droves as armed bandits suspected to be herdsmen invaded the two communities on Christmas day, killing over 12 people and abducted children.

A resident of the deserted Mbadura Council ward who has taken refuge in Jato-Aka, Lawrence Akerigba, in a telephone conversation with our correspondent, informed that the attackers, who also adopted Seven children alive, explained that the eldest among the abducted children is 6 years old. At the same time, the youngest is 2 years of age.

According to him, “the attackers invaded Yaav and Mbakyol council wards of Turan community at about 4 pm when most residents were at home with their families enjoying the cool breeze of the yuletide, killing 12, injuring scores, and abducted children who among others are still missing.

“On Christmas day evening, Eight young boys who had also taken refuge in Jato-Aka town, which is Yaav council wards, were sent by their parents to bring some crops from the farm to prepare food for the family on the boxing and on their way, they met the attackers who opened fire on them killing One person while the remaining  Seven who escaped with gunshot injuries are receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

Akerigba also informed that after the burial of Wantaregh Paul Unongo, there was a sustained attack by bandits on the community, adding that out of the Five Council wards in the Turan community, four have been deserted for over 10 years due to sustained attacks by bandits suspected to be armed herdsmen.

“I am from the Mbadura council ward here in Turan Community of Kwande LG,  but all of us have left our communities; we are now taken refuge in Jato-Aka town for fear of the unknown, and it seems the government has forgotten that his people are going through hell here, nobody is coming to our rescue, no relieve materials even as many were celebrating we were just hearing and the sudden attack on the already traumatised communities.

He said, “Our young people are combining the bushes around because as we talk now, many people are still missing, including women and children; nine corpses were picked at the scene of the attack while Three were recovered from the surrounding bushes, search is still on, and there is the likelihood that more corpses will be recovered.

“What we are calling, for now, is for the government to make our communities safe to enable us to go back to our ancestral homes to continue with our farming to feed our families and pay our children’s School fees because from all indications it seems the security here is helpless, these bandits come with more sophisticated weapons, since yesterday 4 pm and today almost 11 am now no security personnel has come here to access the situation and give the people hope, those who lost their loved ones are just crying since yesterday.

Akerigba further gave the names of the people killed, including Vanen Iorvihi, Mike Azege, Anyisa Akpa, Ausa Imbior, Orwua Abur Hwande, Iornumbe Tse, Zaki Ashivor Mbailuve Tyohemba, Terhemba Tyohemba Jim Ierkwagh and Ijeyol Ierkwagh.

He said the number is still counting because the search team is searching for those missing in the bush.

He also informed that the headquarters of the Turan community is Jato-aka, which comprises five Council awards: Yaav, the home ward of the Late Paul Unongo, Mbadura, Mbakyol, Moon, and Kumakwagh.

Efforts to speak with command spokesperson Catherine Anene proved abortive as she was neither replying to text messages nor picking up calls.