At least two Nigerian Army officers and seven civilians were killed in a fresh attack by suspected herdsmen on the Jato-Aka community in the Kwande Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State on Wednesday evening.
A community source confirmed the tragic incident to SaharaReporters in a phone conversation, saying: “There was another attack this evening (Wednesday evening). People are leaving massively now. Jato-Aka is bleeding. Two army officers were killed, and seven people are confirmed dead this evening.”
The attack has caused panic and fear within the community, with residents fleeing for their lives in search of safety. According to the source, this is just the latest in a series of attacks that have devastated the region.
When contacted, the Benue State Police Command’s spokesperson, Catherine Anene, confirmed the insecurity in the area but could not immediately verify the reported deaths.
In an exclusive interview with SaharaReporters on Thursday morning, Anene said: “That there is a security problem in the community, that is true. But I have not received the report of the death of the seven people. But the military are better positioned to confirm the report on their personnel.”
She clarified that the attacks are localised to the Jato-Aka community and surrounding areas, not the entire local government area.
“The problem is not in the whole local government. It is just the community we call Jato-Aka. It is a community bordering Cameroon, Taraba, and Benue. I don’t think this crisis is caused majorly by the porous nature of the borders. But definitely, borders also play their role.”
This fresh wave of violence follows previous attacks that have already claimed many lives.
In an earlier report, an indigenous resident of Jato-Aka recounted how suspected herdsmen had attacked the community for four consecutive days, leaving a trail of destruction.
The resident, speaking to SaharaReporters on Wednesday, disclosed that about 20 people were killed in Jato-Aka and neighbouring communities. He added that the attackers also burned down numerous houses, farms, and farm produce, plunging the community into deep grief.
“Fulani herdsmen have killed innocent members of my family in Jato-Aka and have left everyone homeless as we speak,” the resident had said.
The attack, which occurred on Tuesday evening, resulted in the death of one person, and numerous houses were torched, along with valuable crops.
“They attacked again yesterday. It was an evening attack. They killed one person and burned down several houses and farm produce. Most of the houses in the community are thatch houses. The armed Fulani herders burned almost all of them down,” the resident recalled.
Fear has gripped the community, with many families abandoning their homes to escape the bloodshed.
“Now, many people are leaving because we don’t want to die. I have asked my brothers to take children and old people who can’t defend themselves to neighbouring towns in case of subsequent attacks,” another resident said.
The armed assailants have reportedly seized key areas in and around the community, making it nearly impossible for displaced residents to return to their homes.
“They have taken over a particular village across the river. It is trekkable from our community. They have taken over farmlands. People are running away from the communities, so how can they even think of farming?” the resident lamented.
