Sophia Michaels
Some suspected gunmen have reportedly murdered four individuals in Mbachon and Mbagbe communities within Turan, Yaav Council Ward, located in the Kwande local government area of Benue state on Friday, May 10th.
Kwande is located in Benue North East Senatorial Zone and the two affected communities are also to the Taraba state border with Benue.
The incident happened at about 5 pm when people were about to settle down to their various compounds.
“They stormed the two communities at about 5pm and opened fire on people, when the dust was down four persons were shot and killed, according to Lawrence Akerigba, a member of the community.
Lawrence Akerigba told The Nation that one corpse was evacuated for burial, while three were missing and another person was taken away.
Kwande Local Government area shares a boundary with Taraba state and has been under herdsmen attacks for 15 years.
He said: “In Moon district, Kwande Local Government area, the people have had no access to their land for 16 years as it has been completely overrun by herdsmen who have turned it into grazing for their animals.
Lawrence Akerigba said further: “The killings are happening now that farming activities have resumed, saying if nothing was done, it will disrupt farming activities now that rains have set in and appealed to security agencies to protect harmless farmers to return to their farm business so that hunger will not kill them.”
When contacted Benue police command said they are yet to get the report of the killings.
