Herders Kill 2 Soldiers, 2 Farmers in Benue

In a deadly attack by suspected herdsmen, two soldiers and two farmers were killed in Jato Aka, Turan, in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, with two other individuals sustaining various degrees of injuries.

A local, who wished to remain anonymous, shared details of the incident with LEADERSHIP, revealing that the victims included two residents, Yenge Kwaghkuga and Bem Adughigbudu, as well as two soldiers. According to the source, the soldiers had responded to a distress call from locals reporting an attack by herdsmen on Tse Tsumbu, near Jato Aka town. While en route to assist, they were ambushed by the armed herders. During the ensuing gun battle, the two soldiers and two civilians were killed, while two other soldiers and several civilians were injured.

In the aftermath of the attack, a deployment of 12 trucks of security personnel was sent to the area on Thursday morning. While the residents commended the increased security presence, they stressed the need for even more personnel to tackle the sophisticated arms and ongoing attacks by the herders.

The attack has had a severe impact on the community, with food supplies destroyed, economic activities disrupted, and schools forced to close. Lawrence Akerigba, a local resident, voiced concerns about the continuous assaults by the herders, noting that they had previously attacked other nearby communities before reaching Tse Tsumbu and Yaav ward on Wednesday.

The violence has forced many residents, particularly those from Jato Aka—the largest town in Turan and the hometown of the late Paul Unongo, former Minister and elder statesman—to flee the area. Akerigba called for further security deployments to help restore safety, confidence, and encourage displaced residents to return and resume their farming activities.

In a statement during the state Executive Council meeting, Benue State Deputy Governor Sam Ode expressed deep sorrow over the tragic deaths of the two brave soldiers, who lost their lives while protecting civilians from the herdsmen’s attacks.