Over 75 farmers have been killed from May 2024 to date by the marauding herdsmen in Turan Community of Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State in 15 attacks while Three Council Wards in Turan are under siege.
A Community leader, Dr. Joseph Akanyi who spoke on behalf of the Turan community during a visit by the Benue State Security Council led by the Director General Bureau for Home Security Air Commandore Jacob Gbamwuan who visited the affected communities to get first hand information on the attacks and assessment of those injured and those who lost their loved ones, said within Eight Months, the community has lost over 75 persons
While appealing to the government to aid in the burial and treatment of the injured, Dr Akanyi informed that aside from lost lives, scores are suffering with varying degrees of injuries and others are left with permanent disabilities adding that, all corpses found decomposed are being buried immediately by the community.
According to him, “we want the government to know that all the Five council wards in Turan Community are under siege, except One which is Yaav council ward that is housing most of the displaced persons.
Narrating the aim of the visit, the Commissioner for Sport, Youth Development and Creativity Terkimbi Ikyange explained that they were in Kwande at the instance of the Governor to condole with the victims and those who lost their loved ones during the Christmas attack and as well carryout assessment of the injured, the level of distruction and present food items to them through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
In an interview with the youth leader of Mbaikyor, one of the badly affected council wards Igbawua Gandepuun, informed that over 17 persons were killed on Christmas and 3000 displaced saying, if the government do not come to our aid Mbaikyor council ward will also be taken over by the herders just as they took over Moon.
Also speaking, the Ter Kwande his Royal Highness Timothy Ahire attributed the sustained attacks on Turan community to poor response and negligence to intelligence reports to the inadequate security agents posted to the area.
He said, “we had prior information about the planned attack by this terrorists on Christmas day and passed it to the security personnel here but they didn’t do anything”
” We are appealing to Federal government and our political leaders to take it upon themselves and talk to the FG to build a security post and also construct roads leading to affected communities for easy access. Especially those communities sharing boundaries with Cameron and Taraba where these bandits and criminals often infiltrate to attack local residents.
In his remark the Commander 401 Brigade Brig. Gen. S.Rabiu who expressed shock on the level of killings and destruction promised to deploy more security personnel to the area, even as he assured that what happened will not repeat again
Earlier, the executive Secretary of SEMA Sir James Iorpuu who was also on the team expressed shock over the killings and destruction done in the affected communities and commended the governor’s proactive response, saying with the deployment of high-ranking security personnel, including commanders OPWS, NSCDC police commissioner, director of DSS, , 401 Operation among others to see things for themselves, get first hand information and facilitate intervention
“My presence here is to bring foodstuff to support those affected by the attacks” Iorapuu added
