Over 390 people have been killed in armed Fulani herdsmen attacks on communities in Gwer West Local Government Area, LGA, in Benue state, according to reports.
The attacks also left 37 people injured and eight districts sacked, with the attackers razing houses, farmlands, and food warehouses.
Chief Daniel Abomste, the Ter Tyochin and Chairman Tyoshin Traditional Council, Gwer West LGA, revealed this in documentary evidence of the attacks, which included the names of those killed and severely injured by the marauders in his domain from 2011 to the present, and was made available to Vanguard Tuesday in Makurdi.
According to a breakdown of the attacks, 55 people were slain in his realm in 2011, and 78 people were killed in 2022. Three people were killed in the attacks in 2013, 48 people were killed in 2014, and three people were hacked to death in 2015.
Three people were killed in 2016, and one survivor had his hand hacked off by the intruders. In 2017, the LGA was spared, but in 2018 the perpetrators went mad, killing 85 people and injuring eight more, while in 2019 there were 35 deaths and five injured victims.
According to the documents, the people had a significant reprieve in 2020. Five people were killed and 11 others were injured by militia herdsmen that year.
However, the frequency of attacks and killings in the area increased dramatically in 2021. In incursions that left 11 people gravely injured, 64 people were slain. Since the beginning of the year 2022, the LGA has recorded four marauding attacks, with 11 people killed in cold blood.
The monarch bemoaned the operations of armed herders in the LGA, noting that eight districts in his domain had already been sacked by jihadist terrorists posing as herdsmen, including “Sengey, Mbachohon, Gbaange/Tongov, Tyoughatee, and Saghev/Ukusu.”
He said that Third Class Chiefs whose domains were affected were advised by the unit head to “prepare to accommodate herdsmen in their domains,” notwithstanding their efforts to have stronger security presence in their areas.
“And since then things have taken a new dimension in Gwer West with a heavy influx of herdsmen with their cattle, eating up every available farm produce, notably yams and yam seedlings kept in farms including cassava farms with impunity and threats on victims with firearms.
“The herdsmen have dared everyone and are fast closing in on Naka town, headquarters of Gwer West LGA where most displaced persons are taking refuge. We are worried that Naka may fall prey to the attackers. Something should be done to correct the security situation in the LGA with minimum delay,” he added.
The monarch also urged the military to erect blockades at the two main entry points for armed herders from neighboring Nasarawa state, Gbaji and Anguhar, to prevent incursions, as well as provide security at Enger community to allow some of the displaced people to return home and resume farming activities as the rains approach.
