Armed assailants beheaded a farmer, Gabriel Vandefan, on Thursday in Uikpam village, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, despite the presence of security forces in the area.

The victim, according to local residents, had returned to his millet farm out of desperation, after recent threats by gunmen had driven many farmers away from their lands. Vandefan was reportedly ambushed, killed, and mutilated.

“One of his hands and his head were taken away,” a resident, who asked not to be named, told AFP. “His body was later recovered and brought back for burial.”

The brutal incident has heightened fears in the community, which is also home to internally displaced persons (IDPs). Locals say the attackers operate freely and without fear of security agents.

A former local government official, who also confirmed the killing, called for urgent reinforcement of security forces to prevent further loss of life.

“This level of violence is becoming unbearable. The government needs to act swiftly before more lives are lost,” the official said.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Benue State Command, DSP Udeme Edet, told AFP she had yet to receive official confirmation of the incident.

Benue has seen repeated violent attacks on farming communities, with Guma LGA among the hardest-hit areas in recent years.