Armed men kill one farmer, abduct three women with kids in Benue

Suspected Fulani herdsmen yesterday attacked Div-zaav community in Kwande Council of Benue State killing one person, and abducted three women.This was coming barely two weeks after armed herdsmen attacked some communities in Guma Council during a Christian wake, killing seven mourners and raping two wives of a traditional ruler in the area.

An indigene of Div-Zaav, Solomon Amande, told newsmen in Makurdi that the armed men came in their numbers into the village last Friday and camped at a nearby swamp, after which they cordoned off the area before unleashing mayhem yesterday.

He said the first compound the bandits entered, they met one Tarfa Simon, a farmer, and killed him, while a woman, Ngusonon Kighir, who was processing garri in the compound, was seriously injured with machetes.

His words, “On sighting Simon, they killed him and macheted the woman. They also took two women with little children while shooting sporadically. They told the women that they would not kill them because they were instructed not to kill women, but men and boys. They could have killed those children, but they discovered that the children are all girls.

“As I talk to you, we have recovered the corpse and Ngusonon Kighir is also currently receiving medical treatment at Msonter Clinic and Maternity, Jato-aka, in Kwande. We have reported this early morning attacks to the divisional police station in Kwande and the police post in Turan Jato-aka.”

The community, according to him, has been deserted.

“People fled the area and took refuge under shades at Jato-aka main market.

“We have resolved to live with the herders who go about with sophisticated weapons, but they have resolved to be killing our people who are not armed. The burden is too much. We are hapless and helpless. We don’t have financial power to resist those who are bent on taking over our land,” hje added.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state, DSP Catherine Anene, said she was yet to get official report on the incidence from the Divisional police Officer (DPO) of the area.

Also, the commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, Maj-Gen. Adeyemi Yekini, said that there was no case of fresh killings in Kwande area of the state, describing the story as mere speculation.