JUST-IN: Benue Community Alleges Neglect As Bandits Kill 7 Traders

Armed bandits believed to be herders have attacked Yanriwa Market in Kwande local government area of Benue State, killing five traders and injuring seven others.

A resident of the community, Lawrence Akerigba who disclosed this to our correspondent on telephone, explained that the heavily armed gunmen invaded the market about 3pm when traders were transacting business.

Akerigba said the gunmen were shooting sporadically at anyone in sight leading to the killing of the five persons.

He lamented that the federal government reneged on its promise to deploy additional security operatives to the communities following the 2024 Christmas day attack where over 20 farmers were killed.

This he said was promised by the government to the affected communities to enable displaced farmers to go back to their ancestral homes.

“Up till now, nothing of that nature has been done. Government has abandoned us to our fate.

“The attack by the herdsmen happened around 3pm in Liev 1 at Usambe in Ikyurav ya,” the distraught resident lamented.

According to him, there is a market in the mountainous area called Yariwa which is patronized by the people of Ikyurav and Turan communities.

He explained that the herdsmen have blocked the Anwase road, where the Christmas attack and killings took place, “as I am talking to you, that road is no longer passable.”

He added that the people of the area have charted another route to Anwase, and taking refuge in Ikyurav, where they establish a market to enable farmers bring their produce once in a week for sale.

“However, the joy of selling turns bloody when the herdsmen invaded the market while people were buying and selling and started shooting at the people.

“Five persons were killed on the spot and 7 others sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital. Some other people are still missing and the search is still ongoing,” Akerigba said.

He added that most schools, churches and markets in the area have been shut due to the herdsmen activities.

“The security men on the ground are trying so much to prevent the attacks, but because they are few in number, their efforts are not much felt.”

He called on the government to deploy more security “to enable our children and farmers to resume school and farm”, even as he said all the schools in the five council wards affected by the crisis have been shut down.