Yesterday afternoon, being Sunday, November 2, 2025, a suspected mobilized group of Fulani herdsmen allegedly set ablaze a substantial rice farm owned by a local farmer Mr. Ugbakayaa, located at Tse Orbiam along the Naka–Makurdi road in the Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to information gathered by Gradual Television from an eyewitness by the name Mr. Ado Bartholomew, the fire consumed the entirety of the rice field, which spans several hectares resulting in the destruction of not only the rice farm but also heaps of harvested rice that had been prepared for threshing.
The attack has deeply affected the Ugbakayaa family, as the farm serves as their primary source of income and sustenance. Mr. Bartholomew expressed, “Everything they worked for throughout the season has been wiped out in a few minutes.”
The local residents and sympathizers have condemned this incident, characterizing it as yet another manifestation of the ongoing violence perpetrated by armed Fulani herdsmen in the region.
They have urged security agencies and the Nigerian government to enhance their efforts in safeguarding farmers in Gwer West and other impacted communities, who have faced years of recurrent assaults and destruction by these armed groups.
Narrating further to Gradual Television by the eyewitness, he stated that the community has experienced similar attacks in recent months, contributing to heightened anxiety among farmers as the harvest season approaches.