Benue Farmers Flee as Bandit Attacks Intensify, Farmlands Abandoned
In a distressing development, numerous residents of farming communities in Benue State have been forced to abandon their homes and seek refuge in safer locations. This mass exodus follows a significant surge in violent attacks and killings that have plagued the region in recent weeks, particularly targeting remote areas predominantly inhabited by peasant farmers.
Escalating Violence Disrupts Agricultural Activities
According to reports, since the onset of the rainy season a few weeks ago, farmers in Uvir and Nyiev wards of Guma Local Council have been unable to access their farmlands due to overwhelming fear. Armed herders have been moving through these areas with cattle, creating an atmosphere of terror that has halted normal farming operations. Across the council, normal activities are now largely confined to Gbajimba, the headquarters, and parts of Mbawa ward, leaving vast expanses of farmland—considered some of the most fertile in the state—lying fallow and uncultivated.
Many of these displaced farmers are currently residing in Internally Displaced Persons camps, unable to return to their lands. A similar crisis is unfolding in Gwer West Local Council, a major rice-producing area. Here, Naka, the headquarters, remains the only relatively safe ward, prompting many residents to relocate from their villages to the town and surrounding areas in search of security.
Recent Attacks Heighten Fear and Insecurity
The situation has been exacerbated by a recent attack in Mbalom, which resulted in the deaths of 17 people. Displaced residents who fled to neighbouring towns such as Ikpayongu, Igbor, and Aliade have expressed that they still feel unsafe to return home, citing ongoing threats and instability. One resident, Joe Shom from Ikyaribo village in Guma, shared a harrowing account with The Guardian, detailing how he narrowly escaped an attack by fleeing into a nearby forest. Tragically, he reported that his sister was later assaulted by the attackers, highlighting the severe personal toll of these incidents.
The impact of these attacks extends beyond immediate violence, disrupting livelihoods and food production in a region crucial to Nigeria's agricultural output. As farmers continue to flee, the abandonment of farmlands threatens to exacerbate food insecurity and economic hardship for local communities. Authorities are urged to address this escalating security crisis to restore safety and enable residents to return to their homes and farms.
