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At least seven people have lost their lives following a sustained two-day assault on Anwuel village in the Oglewu District of Ohimini Local Government Area, Benue State, allegedly carried out by armed herdsmen.
Confirming the incident on Wednesday, the Chairman of Ohimini Local Government, Adole Gabriel, said the attacks occurred on consecutive days, leaving behind destruction and panic among residents.
“Two persons were killed yesterday, and the governor has sent his special adviser on security along with troops to contain the attacks,” Gabriel said, according to Channels TV.
He explained that despite the presence of troops from Operation Whirl Stroke, the attackers returned for another deadly strike.
“We visited the scene at Angwuel, where soldiers of Operation Whirl Stroke had also been stationed, but the herders returned in a gestapo operation on Tuesday evening to attack the community again, killing five additional persons,” he added.
Describing the renewed assault as “unprovoked and barbaric,” Gabriel lamented that the once peaceful community had been thrown into chaos, forcing many residents to flee for their lives.
“Many residents have fled for safety. We have, however, drafted additional security personnel to restore peace and prevent further attacks,” he said.
The killings have sparked outrage across social media, with civil society groups and residents condemning the worsening attacks on farming communities in Benue. Many have also called for decisive intervention by the federal government and international partners to curb the ongoing bloodshed in the North-Central region.
Benue, known as Nigeria’s “Food Basket of the Nation,” has endured years of violent clashes between armed herders and farmers. Thousands have been killed and several communities razed in repeated attacks that have persisted for decades.
Tensions worsened after the enactment of the Anti-Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law in 2017, which bans open grazing and promotes ranching. Enforcement of the law has, however, triggered violent reprisals from armed herders.
Despite the deployment of Operation Whirl Stroke in 2018 to tackle insecurity, attacks have continued across several LGAs including Guma, Gwer West, Logo, Agatu, and Ohimini.
Earlier this year, over 40 people were reportedly killed in separate attacks in Agatu and Gwer East, displacing hundreds. Humanitarian groups estimate that more than 1.5 million people have been displaced across Benue due to the violence.
Rights groups such as Amnesty International and Intersociety have repeatedly accused the federal government of neglecting to protect rural farmers or bring the perpetrators to justice. They warn that the unending violence could worsen food insecurity and deepen instability in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies in Benue State have yet to issue an official statement regarding the latest attack.
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