Three people died when armed attackers struck Anyiase community in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State on Thursday and Friday. The violence unfolded across less than 24 hours, coming shortly after another deadly assault in Okpokwu.
Two farmers, Asongo Nagwebe and Tarzan Agbahegh, were killed when the assailants raided farmlands around 3:20 p.m. on Thursday. Akerigba Lawrence, a former supervisory councillor in the area, confirmed the deaths to reporters.
A man and woman suffered serious injuries in the same attack and were rushed to General Hospital in Jato-Aka. The male victim died during his transfer to Makurdi for specialist care, Lawrence said.
"The attackers blocked the road at Kyoawen Junction on Friday morning and shot at a commercial bus," Lawrence told reporters. The number of people hurt or killed in that incident remains unclear.
Kwande council chairman Vitalis Neji didn't answer calls or messages seeking his response on the attacks. Police public relations officer DSP Udeme Edet was also unavailable for comment before press time.
The back-to-back assaults mark the latest violence to hit the farming communities in Kwande, a region that has struggled with security challenges. Residents have grown increasingly alarmed by the frequency of attacks on both farmlands and roads in the area.
No group has claimed responsibility for either incident so far. The state police command has not issued an official statement on the attacks as of publication.
