Benue Lawmaker Raises Alarm Over Insecurity and Farmland Takeovers

Terseer Ugbor, a House of Representatives member representing Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency in Benue State, has expressed concern over the growing security threats affecting farmers in the region.

Speaking during an interactive session with reporters on Monday, Ugbor claimed that insecurity has significantly impacted Benue's agricultural sector, with reports indicating that over 40% of the state’s farmlands are no longer accessible to farmers.

He warned that the crisis could worsen food insecurity in Benue and across Nigeria, as agricultural activities have been disrupted due to ongoing attacks.

Reflecting on past incidents, Ugbor recalled a 2024 Christmas Day attack in Kwande Local Government, a border community near Cameroon. He noted that in the attack, an immigration outpost—which primarily functioned as an intelligence-gathering station—was targeted and destroyed.

He further stated that during the raid, the assailants retreated into Cameroonian territory, where they were engaged by Cameroonian security forces, reportedly resulting in casualties among the attackers.

Ugbor emphasized that continued insecurity has prevented farmers from returning to their fields, leading to significant losses in farm production and economic hardship for residents.

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