Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Jevaun Rhashan
The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the recovery of six bodies following a deadly attack on farmers in several communities in Apa Local Government Area of the state, intensifying concerns over persistent violence affecting rural populations in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Edet Udeme, the victims were cashew farmers who were reportedly working on their farms when suspected armed herders launched coordinated attacks on Wednesday. The assaults occurred in Asaba, Ojantele and Okpette communities, areas known for their agricultural activity and farming settlements.
The statement explained that the attacks occurred while the farmers were carrying out routine agricultural work in their fields. Armed men suspected to be herders reportedly invaded the farms and opened attacks that left several people dead. The sudden violence triggered panic among residents, many of whom fled into nearby bushes and neighbouring communities to escape the attackers.
Following the incident, a joint security response was immediately initiated. Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, soldiers from the Nigerian military and local youths from the affected communities formed a coordinated search and rescue team that entered surrounding forests where the attackers were believed to have fled.
During the operation, security personnel discovered six bodies believed to be those of farmers who had been killed during the assault. Authorities say the recovery operation took place in forested areas around the affected communities where the victims had either been attacked while working or had attempted to escape during the violence.
Stone Reporters note that Apa Local Government Area lies within a region of Benue State that has experienced repeated tensions between farming communities and suspected armed herders. Over the years, such conflicts have often erupted into violent attacks on rural settlements, resulting in casualties, displacement and destruction of farmland.
Benue State is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most agriculturally productive states, particularly in crops such as yam, cassava, rice and cashew. The state’s farming communities depend heavily on access to farmland for their livelihoods, making attacks on farmers especially devastating for both local economies and food production.
The attack in Asaba, Ojantele and Okpette communities reflects a broader pattern of insecurity affecting farming populations across parts of the Middle Belt. Farmers working in remote agricultural areas are often vulnerable to attacks due to the distance of farm settlements from security posts and the difficulty of accessing these locations quickly.
According to the police statement, the Commissioner of Police in Benue State, CP Ifeanyi Emenari, has directed an intensified security operation to track down the perpetrators of the attack. The police chief assured residents that reinforcements have already been deployed to the affected areas to strengthen security presence and support ongoing investigations.
Security forces are now conducting coordinated operations within forest areas surrounding Apa Local Government Area, where authorities believe the attackers may be hiding. The objective of the operation is to locate the suspects, prevent further attacks and restore a sense of safety for residents who depend on farming activities for their survival.
Stone Reporters note that the deployment of reinforcements is part of a broader effort by security agencies to stabilize volatile rural communities in Benue State. Military and police units have frequently carried out joint patrols in areas considered vulnerable to attacks, particularly during farming seasons when residents spend long hours in distant fields.
The police command has also appealed to residents to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands while investigations continue. Authorities emphasized that cooperation between local communities and security agencies remains essential to identifying those responsible and preventing further violence.
CP Ifeanyi Emenari urged members of the public to provide credible intelligence that could assist security agencies in locating the attackers. Such information, according to the police command, may include suspicious movements in surrounding forests, unfamiliar individuals entering villages, or any activities that may indicate the presence of armed groups.
For residents of the affected communities, however, the recovery of the six bodies has deepened fears about safety in rural areas. Many farmers rely on daily access to their farmlands to sustain their households, and repeated attacks have created an atmosphere of anxiety that threatens agricultural productivity.
Stone Reporters note that violent incidents targeting farmers have become a recurring concern in several states across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where disputes over land use, grazing routes and criminal activities have often intersected with broader security challenges.
Authorities say operations in the forests around Apa will continue until those responsible for the killings are identified and apprehended. Security agencies have reiterated their commitment to protecting rural communities and ensuring that perpetrators of such attacks are brought to justice.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments