(DDM) – Five farmers have been killed in a renewed violent attack on rural communities in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, once again throwing the state’s fragile security situation into sharp focus.
The victims were reportedly attacked while working on their farms during the peak of the harvest season, an incident that residents say has shattered livelihoods and deepened fear.
According to community sources, the attackers were suspected armed herders who invaded the area in the early hours and opened fire without provocation.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants moved through farmlands, targeting farmers who were harvesting crops, leaving several others injured.
The sudden attack reportedly caused panic, forcing many villagers to abandon their farms and flee into nearby bushes.
Local leaders said the deceased were breadwinners whose deaths have plunged their families into grief and uncertainty.
Residents lamented that the killings have disrupted agricultural activities at a critical time when farmers depend on harvests for survival.
Kwande Local Government Area is considered one of Benue State’s major agricultural zones, known for producing yam, rice, maize, and cassava.
Benue State has historically earned the nickname “Food Basket of the Nation” due to its rich soil and large farming population.
However, years of violent attacks on farming communities have steadily eroded this status.
The latest incident adds to a long list of deadly clashes involving suspected armed herders across the state.
Similar attacks have been recorded in Guma, Logo, Gwer West, Makurdi outskirts, and Agatu local government areas.
These recurring incidents have often resulted in mass displacement of rural populations.
Thousands of residents across Benue have been forced into internally displaced persons camps over the years.
Community members in Kwande accused security agencies of failing to act on early warnings.
They claimed strange movements were noticed around surrounding forests days before the attack.
Villagers said the absence of regular security patrols makes rural communities easy targets.
Poor road networks and difficult terrain were also blamed for delayed security response.
The Benue State government has repeatedly condemned attacks on farmers and called for stronger federal intervention.
Previous administrations enacted the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law to curb violence.
Despite the law, enforcement has remained weak, with continued reports of attacks.
Human rights organisations have warned that lack of accountability encourages repeated violence.
They argue that perpetrators are rarely arrested or prosecuted after attacks on farming communities.
The fresh killings have reignited national debate on Nigeria’s worsening internal security crisis.
Security analysts warn that continued violence against farmers poses serious threats to food security.
They note that Benue supplies food to many southern and eastern states.
Any prolonged disruption to farming in the state could worsen food shortages and inflation.
Civil society groups have urged the federal government to deploy more security forces to rural areas.
They also called for compensation and relief for families affected by the latest attack.
Traditional rulers in Kwande appealed for calm while demanding justice for the slain farmers.
Religious leaders described the killings as inhumane and a failure of leadership.
The attack comes at a time of rising poverty and economic hardship across the country.
Experts say rural insecurity pushes young people away from farming, worsening unemployment.
Many displaced farmers end up in cities without alternative sources of income.
Security experts insist that forest surveillance and intelligence-driven operations are urgently needed.
They stress that protecting farmers is critical to national stability and economic growth.
As mourning continues in Kwande, residents remain fearful of further attacks.
For affected families, the tragedy represents not only loss of life but loss of future.
The incident once again highlights the urgent need for decisive action to safeguard Nigeria’s farmers and farmlands.
