Fresh violence has reportedly claimed four lives and left 10 others injured in separate attacks in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State. Residents and a community leader alleged that suspected armed herders carried out the attacks over two days, while police and local government authorities had yet to officially confirm the incidents.

At least four people have reportedly been killed and 10 others injured following separate attacks by suspected armed herders in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.

According to residents, the violence began on Thursday when armed men allegedly invaded farmlands in Anyiase, Moon Council Ward, and opened fire on farmers working on their fields.

A community leader, Felix Abee, said the attack occurred at about 3:30 p.m., killing two farmers identified as Asongo Nagwebe and Tarzan Agbahegh.

He said 10 other victims sustained gunshot injuries and were taken to a medical facility in Jato-Aka for treatment. According to Abee, one of the injured victims later died while being transferred to Makurdi for specialised medical care, bringing the death toll from the initial attack to three.

The community leader further alleged that the attackers struck again during the weekend at Ikyogen Junction, where they reportedly ambushed a commercial vehicle carrying people fleeing the affected communities.

He said one passenger was killed in the attack, while other occupants escaped into nearby bushes.

Abee said the renewed violence has displaced many residents, with families abandoning their homes for safer locations amid fears of further attacks.

"Our people have continued to live in fear. These attacks have persisted, and many families have now fled to safer locations," he said.

Efforts to obtain official reactions were unsuccessful before publication. Calls to the Chairman of Kwande Local Government Area, Vitalis Neji, were not answered.

Similarly, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, did not respond to telephone calls or a text message requesting confirmation of the reported incidents as of the time of filing this report.

Benue State has witnessed repeated attacks linked to the long-running farmer-herder conflict, particularly in border communities, contributing to displacement, loss of lives, and humanitarian challenges.