At least four people were reportedly killed and 10 others injured in separate attacks by suspected armed herders in Kwande LGA of Benue State. Authorities had yet to officially confirm the incidents.
KWANDE, BENUE STATE – July 6, 2026
At least four people were reportedly killed and 10 others injured in separate attacks by suspected armed herders in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, according to residents and a community leader.
The attacks, which reportedly occurred over two days, targeted farming communities and commuters, forcing many residents to flee their homes.
As of the time of filing this report, the Benue State Police Command and local government authorities had yet to officially confirm the incidents.
Community leader Felix Abee told journalists that the violence began on Thursday at about 3:30 p.m.
when armed men allegedly invaded farmlands in Anyiase, Moon Council Ward, and opened fire on farmers.
According to him, two farmers identified as Asongo Nagwebe and Tarzan Agbahegh were killed during the attack, while 10 others sustained gunshot injuries and were rushed to a medical facility in Jato-Aka for treatment.
Abee said one of the injured victims later died while being transferred to Makurdi for specialized medical care, increasing the death toll from the initial attack to three.
The community leader further alleged that the attackers struck again during the weekend at Ikyogen Junction, where they reportedly ambushed a commercial vehicle carrying residents fleeing the affected communities.
According to Abee, one passenger was killed during the attack, while other occupants escaped into nearby bushes.
He said the renewed violence has displaced several families, with many abandoning their homes over fears of further attacks.
"Our people have continued to live in fear. These attacks have persisted, and many families have now fled to safer locations," Abee said.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation were unsuccessful before publication.
Calls placed to the Chairman of Kwande Local Government Area, Vitalis Neji, were not answered. Similarly, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, did not respond to telephone calls or a text message seeking confirmation of the reported attacks.
Prime Brief Media will update this report as soon as security agencies or government officials release an official statement.
Benue State has witnessed repeated attacks linked to the long-running farmer-herder conflict, particularly in border communities, leading to loss of lives, displacement of residents, and humanitarian challenges.
The latest reported attacks are likely to heighten calls for stronger security measures to protect vulnerable rural communities during the farming season.
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