At least three farmers and a commuter have been killed in fresh attacks linked to suspected armed herdsmen in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State, triggering renewed fear and tension across affected communities.
The farmers were reportedly murdered on Thursday afternoon at Gilim Ashi village, a settlement located along the Naka to Agagbe road. The victims were identified as Ioryer Kwaghkaha, Ayila Atsar, and another individual whose identity had yet to be confirmed at press time.
A source from the community said the victims were shot while working on their farms before the attackers fled the area. The bodies of the deceased were later evacuated and deposited at the morgue in Naka, the headquarters of Gwer West Local Government Area.
The latest killings came barely twenty four hours after a commuter was ambushed and killed along the Naka to Makurdi road near Kula village. Although troops of the Nigerian Army reportedly repelled the earlier attack, the assailants were said to have returned on Thursday to target farmers in nearby communities.
Residents of the affected areas have expressed fear over the renewed violence, noting that farming activities and daily movements have been severely disrupted by the persistent attacks.
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Udeme Edet, for official confirmation and further details were unsuccessful as calls to her phone were not returned as of the time of filing this report.
