On Christmas Day, a wave of terror swept through the Yaav and Mbakyol council wards of Kwande Local Government Area in Benue State, as armed bandits, believed to be herdsmen, attacked the communities. The assault resulted in the deaths of over 12 individuals and the abduction of seven children.
A resident from the now-deserted Mbadura council ward, Lawrence Akerigba, shared his account during a phone conversation. He reported that the abducted children ranged in age from 2 to 6 years old.
According to Akerigba, the bandits struck at approximately 4 PM, targeting families who were at home enjoying the holiday. The attack left many injured and several individuals still unaccounted for.
On the evening of Christmas, eight young boys, sent to gather crops for Boxing Day meals, encountered the assailants. One boy was killed, and the remaining seven sustained gunshot wounds and are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
Akerigba noted that the violence in the area has persisted since the burial of Wantaregh Paul Unongo. He lamented that four out of the five council wards in Turan community have been abandoned for over a decade due to ongoing attacks.
“We have all left our homes and taken refuge in Jato-Aka town, fearing for our lives. It seems the government has forgotten that we are suffering here. There is no relief or support, and while others celebrated, we endured this horrific attack,” he said.
The community is still searching for missing individuals, including women and children. Initial reports indicate that nine bodies were discovered at the attack site, with three additional corpses found in nearby bushes.
Akerigba emphasized the urgent need for government intervention to restore safety, allowing residents to return to their homes and resume farming activities. He expressed frustration over the lack of a security response, stating that the bandits were heavily armed and that no security personnel had assessed the situation since the attack.
He named several victims of the attack, including Vanen Iorvihi, Mike Azege, and others, highlighting that the death toll may still rise as the search continues for the missing.
