A large rice farm in Benue State’s Gwer West Local Government Area was reportedly set ablaze by suspected herdsmen on Sunday afternoon, November 2, 2025, resulting in massive destruction. The farm, belonging to Mr. Ugbakayaa, was located at Tse Orbiam along the Naka–Makurdi road.
Eyewitnesses stated the inferno consumed several hectares of cultivated land, destroying both standing crops and already harvested rice packed for threshing. An eyewitness, Mr. Ado Bartholomew, described the destruction as instantaneous and a devastating loss for the family, whose livelihood depended heavily on the farm: “The whole farm went up in flames within minutes. All the rice that was harvested and packed for threshing was destroyed.”
The Ugbakayaa family was left in shock and despair. Residents and sympathizers who visited the scene condemned the recurring attacks on farmers, lamenting the growing insecurity that has crippled agricultural activities in Benue State. They appealed to the Nigerian government and security agencies to increase efforts to protect farmers in Gwer West and other vulnerable communities from persistent assaults and displacement linked to armed herdsmen.
As of the time of the report, security operatives had not issued an official statement regarding the incident.
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