Six farmers killed as gunmen invade Benue farmlands

Six cashew farmers were killed in an attack by suspected terrorists in Benue State, prompting a joint security operation to hunt down the assailants.

Gunmen suspected to be terrorists have killed six cashew farmers in communities within Apa Local Government Area of Benue State. The attack occurred on Friday in the Asaba, Ojantele and Okpette communities while the farmers were reportedly working on their farms.

The spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force in the state, Edet Udeme, confirmed the incident on Saturday in Makurdi. She said joint security teams comprising the police, military and local youths launched search and rescue operations in the forest after the attack.

“At the end of the initial operation, six lifeless bodies were recovered; efforts are ongoing to ensure the safety of residents in the affected communities,” Udeme said. She added that the state Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, had deployed reinforcements while patrols were intensified to track down the attackers.

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