Fear and grief have gripped rural communities in Benue State after suspected herdsmen launched a fresh wave of coordinated attacks, killing nine farmers in broad daylight despite a notable security presence.
The attacks unfolded on Friday in Jato-Acka (Kwande LGA) and Ayilamo (Logo LGA), two farming communities already reeling from past violence. Eyewitnesses described the horror: over 20 gunmen swept through Jato-Acka, opening fire and killing six residents before moving to Ayilamo, where three more, including a Livestock Guard officer, were slain.
Burnt homes, scattered belongings, and grieving families now mark the aftermath.
“These people came without fear, without hiding. They acted like they knew no one would stop them,” said Tyovenda Igyutu, a local leader in Ayilamo. His words echo a growing sentiment of abandonment among rural residents who feel exposed, despite promises of increased security.
Youths in Jato-Acka, led by Lawrence Akerigba, confirmed that the attackers struck around 4:00 p.m., when villagers were still at work on their farms.
As state and federal officials grapple with response strategies, the victims’ communities are left to pick up the pieces—again. The incident raises fresh questions about the effectiveness of security deployments and long-term solutions to the herder-farmer conflict that continues to devastate lives across Nigeria’s Middle Belt.