NO fewer than 10 persons have been reported dead after armed Fulani herdsmen invaded Tyotegh council ward in Gwer-West Local Council of Benue State to carry out reprisal attacks in retaliation of their cattle allegedly killed by indigenes of the area.

The rampaging herdsmen, who rode on horses and motorcycles, were said to have arrived in Tyotegh Village on Monday night shooting at residents and torching their homes.

The herdsmen allegedly torched more than 25 homes and displaced over 3,000 persons in the community.
The Guardian learnt that some villagers had killed the cattle of some herdsmen after the owners led them into the indigenes’ farmlands. The herdsmen fled the community last week only to mobilise for the mass attack.

The conflict has spread to Mbakyondo Village in Makurdi, where the suspected Fulani herdsmen also invaded the community and killed two farmers in the process. Hundreds of residents of Mbakyondo have fled to Adeke Village, five kilometres from Makurdi town for refuge.

Commenting on the crisis, Security Adviser to the Benue State Governor, Col. Basil Kwembe, confirmed the killings and burning of homes of the Tiv farmers.

He appealed to the victims of the invasion to remain calm, saying that the state government had mobilised the police to provide security in the affected areas.

Kwembe said the state government would compensate all the victims.
Chairman of Gwer-West Local Council, Andrew Ayande, said the council would alleviate the suffering of the victims.

When contacted, the state Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Mohammed, said he could confirm five deaths so far, but added that the casualty figure could be higher. He added that a detachment of mobile policemen had been deployed in the area.

Meanwhile, a mobile policeman at Kanshio suburb of Makurdi on Wednesday killed one Aondowase Anngu after a disagreement.

The policeman was allegedly trespassing on the home of Anngu and was stopped by the deceased. He left the scene only to return wearing his uniform and armed with a pistol, which he allegedly used in killing Anngu.have started protesting the killing.

Mohammed said he was yet to get the details of the police killing and promised to make public his findings soon.

-Guardian

Posted by admin on Feb 9 2011. Filed under Benue, State News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry