Herdsmen invasion forces Over 50 Benue communities to flee

DDM News

The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has reported that more than 50 communities across five local government areas (LGAs) in the state have been displaced due to violent attacks by armed herdsmen.

These attacks have led to the destruction of homes and properties, forcing many residents to flee their ancestral lands.

According to the data released by SEMA, the most affected area is Gwer West Local Government Area, where all 15 council wards have experienced some form of displacement.

The report reveals that some of the worst-hit wards in Gwer West include Sengev, Gbaange/Tongov, Saav, Mbapupuu/Tswarev, and Nyamshi, among others.

Just days before the release of this report, additional attacks were reported in Ukum, Logo, Otukpo, and Gwer East LGAs.

SEMA’s report, titled Displaced Communities in Benue State Where Fulanis Have Settled with Their Cows, highlights the significant damage in these local government areas.

The affected LGAs, according to the report, include Guma, Gwer East, Gwer West, Kwande, and Makurdi.

In Guma LGA, several communities in the Mbadwem, Nyiev, Mbaba, Uvir, and Mbayer/Yandev wards have been overtaken by the marauding herders.

In Gwer East LGA, the Mbalom council ward has also experienced displacement, with residents fleeing to safer areas.

Makurdi, the state capital, has not been spared, with at least two communities in Mbalagh and one in Bar council wards also affected.

Kwande LGA has also been hit, with communities in Moon and Anwase wards having fallen victim to the violent herders.

Terna Ager, the information officer at SEMA, confirmed these reports, though he noted that other communities might also be suffering from similar attacks.

The displaced individuals are currently taking shelter in 13 official internally displaced persons (IDP) camps across the state.

Many of these IDPs have been living in the camps for years, with some having been displaced for as long as eight years.

The prolonged displacement has left many without hope of returning to their ancestral homes.

Iorbee Ihagh, a retired Comptroller of Prisons and prominent leader in Benue State, has echoed the devastating impact of these attacks on the community.

Ihagh, who hails from Moon ward in Kwande, shared that his entire community has been abandoned due to the ongoing attacks.

Public facilities such as schools, healthcare centers, and markets have been destroyed, worsening the suffering of the displaced residents.

As the President of Mdzou U Tiv Worldwide, Ihagh has renewed calls for the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the state to address the escalating insecurity.

The conflict between herdsmen and farmers has been a long-standing issue in Benue State, and these latest attacks reflect the ongoing violence that has plagued the region.

Local officials and displaced residents are urging both state and federal authorities to take immediate action to restore peace and security in the area.

This ongoing violence continues to put a strain on the lives of residents who are caught in the crossfire of these deadly clashes between herders and farmers.

The security situation in Benue State has become dire, and many believe it is time for stronger intervention to address the root causes of these conflicts.

The people of Benue, particularly those affected by these attacks, are calling for lasting solutions that would bring an end to the cycle of violence and displacement.

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