Suspected bandits launched an attack on Anwase village in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State on Friday, setting 11 houses ablaze and injuring some residents before being repelled by security operatives.
The incident occurred around noon when the armed invaders stormed the community, burning down homes and causing panic among locals.
Fortunately, no fatalities were recorded, though some residents sustained injuries during the invasion.According to the Benue State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, security personnel swiftly intervened and repelled the attackers.
"It is true, there was attack on Anwase but our gallant officers repelled them and there was no casualty," Edet confirmed.
A local source and former councillor in Kwande LGA, Lawrence Akerigbe, provided further details: "The attack on Anwase happened at about noon on Friday, the invaders burnt down about 11 houses.
"Some people were also injured during the attack but fortunately, security operatives that were deployed to Abande community that was attacked three days earlier were on patrol when they ran into the invaders. Immediately the bandits sighted the security men they fled, that was what saved the situation."
The prompt response by security forces, who were already in the area following a deadly assault on the nearby Abande community on Tuesday, prevented a worse outcome.
In that earlier attack, at least five to 17 people, including a mobile police officer, were killed, with reports of looting and arson at a local market.
Anwase village has faced repeated violence, including a Christmas Day attack in 2024 that claimed over 28 lives.
Community leaders have highlighted ongoing security challenges in Kwande LGA, where no fewer than 76 people have reportedly been killed in bandit-related incidents over the past two years.
The area, near the Nigeria-Cameroon border, continues to grapple with persistent threats from armed groups often linked to herder-farmer tensions and banditry.
Authorities have not disclosed further details on arrests or ongoing pursuits, but the incident underscores the fragile security situation in parts of Benue State amid recurring attacks on rural communities.
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