Suspected herdsmen reportedly attacked communities in Nyiev-ya, Kwande Local Government Area, Benue State, killing at least 11 persons.
Residents were celebrating Christmas on Wednesday, December 25, 2024, when the attackers broke into the villages, according to information obtained.
“The terrorist herders came on Wednesday afternoon when the people were celebrating Christmas and invaded our communities, k!lling and burning houses,” one of the residents who identified himself as Terlumun told Punch.
Iorbee Ihagh, the president-general of “Mdzough U Tiv Worldwide,” a Tiv sociocultural organization, confirmed the attack on Thursday.
“11 people were k!lled in the Christmas day attack on Mkomon district of Turan in Kwande LG. Some are still missing as I speak to you now. Our people were celebrating Christmas when the Fulani herdsmen invaded the communities and attacked the people,” he said.
Ihagh claimed that the herdsmen had long before fired parts of the council wards in the LG, most notably Moon Council Ward.
He urged President Bola Tinubu and Governor Hyacinth Alia to strengthen state security.
Solomon Amande, a former advisor to the state’s immediate governor whose neighborhood was impacted, attested to the testimony of eleven individuals who said that a number of paramilitary organizations and armed herders carried out the murders.
“I was told that given the relative peace for some time now in the communities, the people who deserted their homes due to the activities of armed herdsmen decided to go back home and reside in their communities,” Amande said.
“They settled in their communities and went about their normal activities. Unfortunately, on Christmas Day, they went to church and after returning home, families were preparing meals and some gathered and relaxed at spots to celebrate Christmas when a combined team of armed herdsmen and Jukun militias started attacking from five places.
“They were chasing people and shooting sporadically, and whoever they caught up with was k!lled. They did that till they got to Government Secondary School, Anwase.
“They k!lled 10 people at Anwase in Mbaikyor Council Ward of Turan. And they also k!lled one person at Iyaav Council Ward, which is my ward, around Tse Jam River Crossing. They carried out the k!llings in communities at the foot of the mountain. It was indeed a sad Christmas for our people.
The governor’s Security Adviser on Internal Affairs and Security, Joseph Har, also confirmed the attack.
“It’s true. I was informed about the incident but I have forwarded the report to the Director-General on security. He’ll give you details,” Har said.
