Ngban village in Nyiev Ward, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State was filled with grief over the weekend as three members of the same family were buried following separate attacks by suspected herdsmen.
The tragedy began when the family head, Mr. Iorhen, was killed in an earlier assault. His body was placed in the mortuary, awaiting burial. Before that could happen, his wife, Mrs. Mlumun Iorhen, and their son, Terkimbi, were murdered last Saturday while working on their farm.
Local residents said the killings reflect a disturbing trend of increasing violence against farming communities across Guma and other parts of Benue State. Many farmers have either been displaced, lost loved ones, or abandoned their farms due to constant fear.
“Life has become unbearably harsh and unpredictable,” an elderly villager said, describing the insecurity that has taken hold of the area.
This latest attack comes amid a larger crisis of farmer-herder conflicts that have plagued Benue for years. In June, over 100 people were reportedly killed in Yelewata, also in Guma, after gunmen attacked homes at night and set them ablaze.
Security analysts say the ongoing violence has disrupted farming activities, reduced food production, and worsened poverty in rural areas. An academic study also confirmed that Guma has suffered a sharp decline in farm output and income due to the attacks.
Community leaders have again called on the federal and state governments to urgently strengthen security in vulnerable areas and enforce existing laws banning open grazing and armed attacks.
Without strong action, many fear the region will continue to suffer loss, displacement, and hunger.
