Less than 24 hours after an earlier attack claimed three lives in Yelewata, bandits have again struck Uikpam community in Mbabai Council Ward, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, killing three more residents.
The attack occurred Tuesday night and was confirmed on Wednesday by a community leader, Jimmin Geoffrey, who was also a candidate in the 2023 Benue State House of Assembly elections for Guma 1 constituency.
Geoffrey told journalists that two people — Akeh Kelvin and Francis Nomsoor were killed during the night attack, while the body of an elderly man, Iorhemba Ikpanju, was found in the bush the following morning, bringing the total number of victims to three.
“The discovery of the body of Baba Iorhemba Ikpanju at a nearby bush this morning brings the total casualty figures to three,” Geoffrey said. “We again call on concerned authorities to make haste by redeploying security operatives to Uikpam in order to at least restore some confidence in the already traumatised residents.”
Guma LGA, which shares a border with Nasarawa State, has witnessed repeated attacks by armed herdsmen in recent years. These attacks have continued despite calls for greater security presence in the area.
Local leaders say the persistent killings have left many communities in fear, while displacement and destruction of farmland have worsened the hardship faced by rural dwellers.