Suspected armed herdsmen on Friday afternoon attacked Anwase Market in Mbaikyor community, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, kidnapping several market women and setting the market on fire.
The attack, which happened during peak trading hours, threw the entire community into panic as traders and residents ran for safety. Witnesses said the attackers came from a nearby mountain and began shooting into the air to scare people before setting shops and stalls ablaze.
According to residents, the gunmen arrived suddenly, leaving little time for traders to gather their belongings. Many women who had come from nearby villages to sell farm produce were caught off guard.
An eyewitness told reporters that the market was already on fire before the community could organise any form of resistance.
“They came from the mountain and started shooting everywhere. People started running. Before we knew it, the market was burning. They took some women away with them,” the eyewitness said.
Another resident said many traders fled into nearby bushes and farmlands to escape being captured or killed.
“The shooting caused serious fear. Some people fell while running. Everyone was just trying to save their life,” the resident added.
It was gathered that the attackers kidnapped several women and forced them to move towards the mountainous area surrounding the community. By the time security agencies arrived at the scene, the attackers had already escaped with their victims.
Security operatives later visited the area, but residents said the response came too late to stop the attack or rescue the abducted women.
The exact number of women kidnapped could not be confirmed as of the time of filing this report. However, community leaders fear that more victims may still be missing as some traders are yet to return home.
Anwase Market is a major trading centre for farmers and traders in Mbaikyor and neighbouring communities. The market is known for the sale of food items such as yam, rice, maize, cassava, vegetables, and palm produce. The destruction of the market is expected to affect economic activities in the area.
Residents said several stalls, goods, and farm produce worth millions of naira were destroyed in the fire. Many traders, mostly women, lost their only source of income in the attack.
“This market is how we survive. Everything we have was here. Now it is all gone,” a female trader said while crying.
Kwande Local Government Area is one of the areas in Benue State that has witnessed repeated attacks linked to suspected armed herdsmen. Over the years, communities in the local government have faced killings, kidnappings, and destruction of property.
Benue State, often referred to as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” has long struggled with violent clashes between farmers and herders. These clashes are usually linked to disputes over land, grazing routes, and access to water. In recent years, however, many attacks have taken a criminal dimension, involving armed groups who raid communities, kidnap residents, and burn homes and markets.
Despite the enforcement of the state’s anti-open grazing law, attacks have continued in several rural areas. Residents have repeatedly accused the government and security agencies of failing to provide adequate protection for farming communities.
Local leaders in Mbaikyor have called on the Benue State Government and security agencies to act quickly to rescue the kidnapped women and prevent further attacks.
A community leader said the area is vulnerable because of its location near forested and mountainous regions, which attackers often use as hideouts.
“We are tired of burying our people and running from our homes. The government must do more to protect us,” the leader said.
The attack has once again raised concerns about insecurity in rural communities across Benue State. Many residents say they now live in fear and are unsure if it is safe to go to farms or markets.
Civil society groups have also condemned the attack and called for stronger security measures in affected areas. They urged the government to deploy more security personnel and improve intelligence gathering to prevent future attacks.
As of the time of filing this report, the Benue State Police Command had not released an official statement on the incident. Efforts to reach security officials for comment were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, families of the kidnapped women are appealing for urgent action to secure their release. Some residents said they fear the victims could be harmed if help does not come quickly.
