Armed herders have reportedly shot dead a woman exactly one year after her husband was slaughtered by the same herdsmen. This happened in a fresh attack on Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The tragic incident which occurred on Sunday has been described by locals as a “black Sunday,” underscoring the growing insecurity in the Middle Belt.
Residents say the woman’s husband was slaughtered last year during an attack allegedly carried out by the same group of armed herders.
Her killing last night has further heightened tension and renewed calls for urgent security intervention in the state.
The latest incident comes amid escalating violence in Benue, particularly in Kwande and Guma Local Government Areas.
Residents have raised serious alarm over what they describe as strange and threatening activities of armed herders grazing openly with sophisticated weapons.
Community members fear that the situation could deteriorate further if urgent action is not taken.
According to local accounts, the entire Ndzorov Council Ward of Guma has been deserted by its inhabitants, allegedly after being overrun by armed herders.
Residents claim the occupation has led to multiple killings, including the death of a woman identified as the wife of a local man in the early hours of Sunday.
Security sources and community leaders also point to what they describe as a high influx of armed herders into Benue State under the guise of grazing, despite the state’s anti-open grazing prohibition law.
They warned that the continued movement of armed groups into rural communities poses a grave threat to lives and property.
As fear grips affected areas, residents are calling on the federal and state governments, as well as security agencies, to urgently restore order, enforce existing laws, and prevent further loss of innocent lives in Benue State.
The Spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet could not be reached to confirm the incident at the time of this report.
