₦airaland Forum

No fewer than 16 local farmers and three residents were killed by gunmen that attacked communities in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.

It was gathered that the farmers were ambushed and killed on Saturday along Kashimbila Road while returning to their community in Mbandwa ward and their bodies were reportedly thrown into a river.

The gunmen further invaded Boaguwa, Kumakua council ward of Kwande LGA to kill another three residents on Monday afternoon.

Thousands of residents have been displaced from the communities after these attacks.

"The farmers were returning home when they were ambushed. Their bodies were dumped in the river,” a resident of Kwande was quoted by Daily Trust.


The President General of Mzough U Tiv Worldwide and leader of Benue’s three major socio-cultural groups—Mzough U Tiv, Ochi’ Idoma, and Om’Ngede— a retired Comptroller of Prisons, Iorbee Ihagh, who hails from the area confirmed the attacks to journalists in Makurdi on Monday night.

Ihagh, speaking from Jato Aka, expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in Kwande.

He said, “I was informed that 16 farmers were killed at the weekend and their bodies thrown into River Katsina Ala. Just today, three more have been killed in Boaguwa. People have fled their homes, and I doubt if Jato Aka itself is safe.”

Ihagh further revealed that all six council wards in Turan, Kwande LGA, had been overrun by gunmen just as he called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently deploy more troops to restore order in the area.

Efforts to obtain an official response from the Benue State government proved difficult at the time of filing this story.

The Chairman of Kwande LGA, Terhile Vitalis Neji, could not be reached on telephone despite repeated attempts.

Also, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internal Security, Joseph Har, referred inquiries to the Director General of Homeland Security, Air Commodore Jacob Gbamwuan (retd.). However, Gbamwuan’s phone was unreachable.

Similarly, attempts to reach Benue State Police Command spokesperson, Catherine Anene, were unsuccessful.

These recent attacks may be linked to the farmers-herders crisis in the state. The crisis is fuelled by competition over land and water resources, with farmers accusing herders of destroying their crops, while herders claim that restrictive anti-grazing laws limit their traditional pastoral lifestyle.

The conflict has roots in climate change, desertification, and the southward migration of herders searching for grazing land.It has escalated in recent years due to population growth, urban expansion, and changes in land use.

In response to increasing attacks and tensions, the Benue State government enacted the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law in 2017.

The law mandates that all livestock be kept in ranches, banning open grazing.

While farmers welcomed the law, herders and groups like the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) opposed it, claiming it was unfair and discriminatory.

https://saharareporters.com/2025/02/18/gunmen-fresh-attacks-benue-state-kill-16-farmers-dump-corpses-river

Video https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BWBud31HD/

Where is the security when you need them most

At this point, it looks like the marauders have totally overrun Benue State.

SmartPolician:
At this point, it looks like the marauders have totally overrun Benue State.

Long ago

This is divine judgement
No other explanation

Benuejosh did your father defend Benue or ran away to blame Peter obi ?

FAKE NEWS!!

Edited:
To those quoting me without thinking, who in those interior villages they mentioned that is so interior and bordering Taraba State has a cell phone with such sharp camera to snap those pictures? But, agenda must agend.

benuejosh:
FAKE NEWS!!

Imposter wey no get shame!

We are used to the wickedness. May God give us courage to speak the truth.

Good evening Iwaeda

iwaeda:
It was gathered that the farmers were ambushed and killed on Saturday along Kashimbila Road while returning to their community in Mbandwa ward and their bodies were reportedly thrown into a river.

No fewer than 16 local farmers and three residents were killed by gunmen that attacked communities in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.

It was gathered that the farmers were ambushed and killed on Saturday along Kashimbila Road while returning to their community in Mbandwa ward and their bodies were reportedly thrown into a river.


The gunmen further invaded Boaguwa, Kumakua council ward of Kwande LGA to kill another three residents on Monday afternoon.

Thousands of residents have been displaced from the communities after these attacks.

"The farmers were returning home when they were ambushed. Their bodies were dumped in the river,” a resident of Kwande was quoted by Daily Trust.


The President General of Mzough U Tiv Worldwide and leader of Benue’s three major socio-cultural groups—Mzough U Tiv, Ochi’ Idoma, and Om’Ngede— a retired Comptroller of Prisons, Iorbee Ihagh, who hails from the area confirmed the attacks to journalists in Makurdi on Monday night.

Ihagh, speaking from Jato Aka, expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in Kwande.

He said, “I was informed that 16 farmers were killed at the weekend and their bodies thrown into River Katsina Ala. Just today, three more have been killed in Boaguwa. People have fled their homes, and I doubt if Jato Aka itself is safe.”

Ihagh further revealed that all six council wards in Turan, Kwande LGA, had been overrun by gunmen just as he called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently deploy more troops to restore order in the area.

Efforts to obtain an official response from the Benue State government proved difficult at the time of filing this story.

The Chairman of Kwande LGA, Terhile Vitalis Neji, could not be reached on telephone despite repeated attempts.

Also, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internal Security, Joseph Har, referred inquiries to the Director General of Homeland Security, Air Commodore Jacob Gbamwuan (retd.). However, Gbamwuan’s phone was unreachable.

Similarly, attempts to reach Benue State Police Command spokesperson, Catherine Anene, were unsuccessful.

These recent attacks may be linked to the farmers-herders crisis in the state. The crisis is fuelled by competition over land and water resources, with farmers accusing herders of destroying their crops, while herders claim that restrictive anti-grazing laws limit their traditional pastoral lifestyle.

The conflict has roots in climate change, desertification, and the southward migration of herders searching for grazing land.It has escalated in recent years due to population growth, urban expansion, and changes in land use.

In response to increasing attacks and tensions, the Benue State government enacted the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law in 2017.

The law mandates that all livestock be kept in ranches, banning open grazing.

While farmers welcomed the law, herders and groups like the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) opposed it, claiming it was unfair and discriminatory.



https://saharareporters.com/2025/02/18/gunmen-fresh-attacks-benue-state-kill-16-farmers-dump-corpses-river

benuejosh:
FAKE NEWS!!

Nlfpmod, this one is calling it fake news, I pray it doesn't touch your family in their safe heaven. Politics will end one day.

gabbytabby:
Good evening Iwaeda

May the evening be good to you too sir.

Hey god!
Why farmers? Why??

O LORD, show Nigeria mercy. 🤲🏼

And so educated illiterates will say that we have government

The greatest threat to national security is a government that can not be trusted

benuejosh:
FAKE NEWS!!

Shameless fóól

Add anambra so the post go get view

These terrorists want to put a siege on the food supply of the south

Just like that.

No investigation, No arrests will be made.

If any arrest is made, they will be repackaged with tax payers money in the name of REPENTED bandits.

Again

HonestAfonja:
Benuejosh did your father defend Benue or ran away to blame Peter obi ?

Did anybody mention Peter Obi name? You are calling for it and when they do you will start ranting. Are you people sick or something?

Benue State is a Coward State....quote me anywhere

For how long will this nonsense continue, what will it cost that state to set up neighborhood watch groups to assist the security agents in the protection of lives and property in Benue state.

Where is Helinues ?

He can now be proud of the progress of bobo Chicago

RIP

These killings is to what end exactly?

We have lost it as humans in this country

Only today, we don hear different set of bad news

Naija matter dey really tiring

Gruesome
Why can't Benue people retaliate against all this senseless killing in their state? How long will they remain docile and watch their wards being massacred almost on daily basis?
This is sad.

Just this morning, One fool was busy telling me "we" do not ask for pictures when terrorist attack. He said that in defence of APC when the army killed score of audio terrorists.

wellmax:
These are the enemies of Nigeria.

When bandits attack, they rejoice and don’t ask for pictures. But when the Army attacks bandits, they ask for pictures like they want to identify their family members.

If u pick up tools and fight back,
Government go arrest u,


Rip to the dead, and then believe in one-nigeria oo

they have change the narrative from herdsmen to gunmen.....which gunmen kill farmers ? if not same fulanis that has operating same way since

iwaeda:
https://saharareporters.com/2025/02/18/gunmen-fresh-attacks-benue-state-kill-16-farmers-dump-corpses-river

Video https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BWBud31HD/

For the food basket 🧺 state again,make God help us.RIP TO THE DEAD.

Lieutenant83:
Benue State is a Coward State....quote me anywhere

It is like Benue people have accepted this as their eternal fate like their life belongs to fulani man's desire and wishes.
Whenever fulani feels thirsty, he just goes to Benue and tell them to raise their skirt up so he can smash them as he wants even if he wants to do it 5 times a day.

Benue guys are bitch ass niggas that can't fight for their rights and lands