April 23, 2024

Suspected herders have killed three farmers in two communities of Benue State.

The casualties were killed in separate attacks on their farms in Entekpa and Idabi over the weekend.

The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area Alfred Omakwu told Channels Television on Tuesday that one person was killed at his farm in Entekpa village before the attackers moved up to Adoka’Icho where they killed two other farmers at Idabi village.

The chairman who is on his way to the affected communities at the time of filing this report said Entekpa which comprises nine villages is now completely deserted, leaving the attackers to move freely.

“Three of our people were killed by armed herdsmen during the weekend. The first attack happened at Entekpa where one farmer was killed. Then the attacks moved to Adako’Icho at Idabi village and killed two others working on their farm,” the LG chief narrated.

He called for help from both federal and state governments to step up security deployment to the area to nip the attacks and killing in the bud. According to him, the communities have been deserted when farmers are supposed to be preparing for the planting season.

“These attacks have persisted since the beginning of the season but we are appealing to the federal and state government to quickly come to our aid with security deployment to halt the attack,” Omakwu said.

Suspected herdsmen attacks in Benue since January have been a source of concern for farmers in rural communities.

The attackers had launched assaults on several communities in Otukpo, Apa, Agatu, Gwer West, Makurdi, Guma, Logo, Ukum, Kwande, and Gwer East local government areas where eighteen persons were killed on March 7th, 2024 and later given mass burial by the Benue State Government.