Suspected herdsmen attacked Anwase Market in Mbaikyor, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, kidnapping several market women and setting the market ablaze. The attackers, who arrived from a nearby mountain, fired sporadically, causing panic before setting stalls on fire and abducting women. The incident has left the community in shock, with many traders fleeing in different directions to escape the attack ¹.
According to eyewitnesses, the market was already engulfed in flames by the time residents could respond. This incident follows a similar attack on Abande community in Turan, Kwande Local Government Area, where over 17 people were killed and several others injured. Governor Hyacinth Alia has condemned the attacks, ordering security agencies to intensify operations and restore safety to the communities ² ³.
The Benue State Government has been urged to take decisive action to protect lives and property in the area. The attack has sparked concerns about the rising insecurity in the region, with some attributing it to illegal mining activities ⁴.
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