A farmer in Amla community, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, simply identified as Adah has recounted a harrowing encounter with armed herdsmen, who destroyed his cassava farm, attacked him, and dispossessed him of valuables.

The victim, who owns a two-hectare cassava farm in the community, said he had gone to harvest produce for his family when he discovered extensive damage to his crops and property.

“I left home to harvest my cassava at Amla community where I have two hectares of cassava farm. When I got there, I saw how armed herdsmen had uprooted my cassava all over the place and were to feed their cows with it,” he said.

He added that a large mango tree on the farm had also been cut down, noting that the situation escalated when he was suddenly confronted by armed men.

“On arrival, somebody with an AK-47 rifle jumped out from near the mango tree, pointed his gun at me and ordered me to lie down. Moments later, another one came out with a gun and a long knife. They both pointed their guns at me and I thought I was dead,” he narrated.

The farmer said he pleaded with the attackers, explaining that he had only come to harvest food for his family.

“I told them it was my cassava farm and I came to harvest for my family to make garri, which has been sustaining us. But they ordered me to obey or they would shoot me,” he said.

Defying their command to lie down, the victim said he began to pray loudly.

“My mind told me not to lie down because if I did, they would kill me. I started praying loudly and shouting ‘Jesus saves.’ They pointed their guns at my head and chest and pulled the trigger several times, but the guns did not fire,” he claimed.

The attackers, reportedly confused by the situation, allegedly switched to knives and later resorted to physical assault.

“When they saw they could not shoot or harm me with the guns, they pulled out knives and kept insisting I should lie down. When that didn’t work, they beat me and inflicted wounds all over my body. They took my money, my phone, and my motorbike,” he said.

The farmer said he eventually managed to escape.

“I give glory to God for saving my life,” he added.

He, however, raised the alarm over what he described as a growing threat in the area, alleging that residents were being forced off their ancestral lands.

“These people are gradually taking over Otukpo communities. Our people have run away from their homes and farmlands. We are appealing to the government and security agencies to act fast before they completely take over our land,” he said.

Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet for comment were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.(Vanguard)

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