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A slow drive along the road from Anyiin to Ayilamo in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State reveals a chilling scene of abandonment and desolation. On both sides of the road stand rows of deserted houses and compounds overtaken by weeds, where once vibrant farming communities have fallen silent.
Residents say the villages along this axis, stretching from Tsukwa to Akwana and extending towards Ayilamo town in Tombo Council Ward, were not emptied by voluntary migration or economic hardship but by fear triggered by repeated attacks from suspected armed Fulani herdsmen. Frightened natives describe how entire settlements have been sacked and abandoned, with houses left desolate as families fled for safety.
A resident who spoke anonymously painted a grim picture: “If you are going to Ayilamo from Anyiin, it will shock you that the houses from Tsukwa down to Akwana and even the areas shortly before Ayilamo town are completely deserted.” The scale of displacement is evident to anyone travelling through the area.
Communities that were once known for rich agricultural activities, where farmers cultivated large fields of yam, cassava, maize and other crops to sustain families and support the local economy, now lie untended. For many displaced families, the loss of their farmlands has meant the loss of their only means of survival.
Compounding the tragedy is the emergence of mining activities in many of these deserted areas. According to locals, despite the repeated assaults on villagers that forced them to flee, there have been no reports of armed herdsmen attacking the mining operators. Mining continues freely in these abandoned places, raising suspicions among residents who question why local farmers are targeted while mining sites remain untouched.
The development has become a major source of concern and frequent conflicts, as displaced residents watch criminal elements invade and occupy their ancestral lands with impunity. Many fear returning home, believing they could be killed by the intruders.
The situation in Logo LGA highlights the deepening humanitarian and security crisis in parts of Benue State, where armed attacks, forced displacement, and the subsequent exploitation of abandoned farmlands continue to threaten rural communities and their traditional way of life.
