The Christmas Day celebration turned tragic for the people of Yaav and Mbakyol council wards in the Kwande local government area of Benue State.
The bandits, suspected to be herdsmen, launched a brutal attack on the communities, leaving over 12 persons dead and seven children abducted.
The victims, including children as young as 2 and 6 years old, were taken from their families during the attack, which occurred around 4pm. Many others were injured
The latest attack is coming barely one month hundreds of armed men stormed communities in Benue State’s Kastina Ala Local Government, killing no fewer than 30 residents and destroying properties worth millions of naira.
A residents Jato-Aka Lawrence Akerigba, who spoke to some journalists on Thursday, on the latest attack, lamented that the communities had been subjected to series of attacks with no help from either the government or the security agencies.
He said, “The attackers invaded Yaav and Mbakyol council wards of Turan community at about 4pm when most residents were at home with their families enjoying the cool breeze of the yuletide, killing 12, injuring scores, and abducted children while others were still missing.”
In a separate incident, a group of eight young boys were ambushed while fetching crops from the farm. One boy was killed, and the remaining seven sustained gunshot injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment.
“On Christmas day evening, eight young boys who are also taking refuge in Jato-Aka town which is Yaav council wards were sent by their parents to bring some crops from the farm so as to prepare food for the family on the Boxing Day and on their way, they met the attackers who opened fire on them, killing one person while the remaining seven who escaped with gunshot injuries are receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.”
Lamenting the sustained attacks, Akerigba said that after the burial of Wantaregh Paul Unongo, there has been a sustained attack by bandits on the community.
He said that of the five council wards in the Turan community, four have been deserted for over 10 years due to sustained attacks by bandits, suspected to be armed herdsmen.
“I am from Mbadura Council ward here in Turan Community of Kwande LG, but all of us have left our communities, we are now taking refuge in Jato-Aka town for fear of the unknown, and it seems the government has totally forgotten that his people are going through hell here, nobody is coming to our rescue, no relief materials, even as many were celebrating we were just hearing and the sudden attack on the already traumatised communities.”
He said, “Our young people are combing the bushes around because as we talk now, many people are still missing including women and children, 9 corpses were picked at the scene of the attack while three were recovered from the surrounding bushes, search is still on and there is the likelihood that more corpses will be recovered.
“What we are calling for now is for the government to make our communities safe to enable us go back to our ancestral homes to continue with our farming to feed our families and pay our childrens school fees, because from all indications, it seems the security here are helpless. These bandits come with more sophisticated weapons, since yesterday 4pm and today almost 11am now no security personnel has come here to access the situation and give the people hope, those who lost their loved ones are just crying since yesterday”.
Akerigba gave the names of the slain victims to include Vanen Iorvihi, Mike Azege, Anyisa Akpa, Ausa Imbior, orwua Abur Hwande,.Iornumbe Tse, Zaki Ashivor Mbailuve Tyohemba,Terhemba Tyohemba Jim Ierkwagh and Ijeyol Ierkwagh.
He however said the number was still counting, adding that the search team was still searching for those missing in the bush.
The community has been plagued by sustained attacks from armed bandits, suspected to be herdsmen, over the past decade.Â
The attacks have led to the desertion of four out of the five council wards in the Turan community, leaving residents in a state of fear and uncertainty.
When Reporters reached out to the Police Public Relations Officer in Benue State, SP Catherine Anene, she said was yet to get report of what happened in the area.
“I haven’t received report of any incident in that place. I even called, I am waiting for them to tell me what actually happened there. That area is the boundary between Benue and Cameroon. It is a kind of forest and hilly area, sometimes they have network challenges. Hopefully by this evening I think they will try to reach me,” she said.
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