Tragedy struck the Uikpam community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State as suspected militia Fulani herdsmen gruesomely murdered a local farmer, Mr. Gabriel Vandefan, while he was harvesting millet behind his home.
According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers stormed the area in broad daylight, beheaded Mr. Vandefan, and severed one of his hands, which they took with them as they fled the scene. The brutal killing has left the community in shock and mourning.
Residents described the incident as another grim reminder of the worsening security situation in the area, where farming activities have become nearly impossible due to repeated attacks by armed herders. Locals say venturing to the farm has now become a life-threatening decision.
“The fear is real,” one resident told Hobnob News. “We’re living like prisoners in our own land. If you go to the farm, you may not return alive.”
The killing of Mr. Vandefan adds to the long list of victims in the ongoing wave of violence across several rural communities in Benue State. Community leaders are calling on both the state and federal governments to urgently address the security breakdown and provide protection for farming communities before more lives are lost.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies have yet to release an official statement on the attack.
