- About 60 people have died following seperate attacks by herdsmen in Benue state
- Suspected Fulani herdsmen have continued to plague agrarian communities in Benue
- Governor Ortom has declared that all Fulani herdsmen must leave the state with immediate effect
Emerging reports show that the death toll between 10th to 20th March has risen to 60 in Benue state, following alleged attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
Nigeria’s police chief, Ibrahim K Idris says he is deploying a special tactical force to deal with the continuing violence.
The police special tactical force is to comprise of Police Mobile Force (PMF specially trained Anti Riot Policemen), Counter Terrorism Units, Conventional Policemen, Special Anti Robbery Squad, SIB, detachment of EOD, Police K9 (Sniffer Dogs Section), Police Air wing (Aerial Surveillance Helicopters) and other undercover operatives.
According to a police statement obtained, the police special tactical force is led by the commissioner of police in charge of PMF, Force Headquarters in Abuja, under the supervision of deputy Inspector General of Police, department of operations.
The attack on Friday March 10, began in Mkgovur village, on the outskirts of Buruku town. When the Hausa Fulani Muslim herders were prevented from grazing their cattle on the farms of the indigenous Christian community, they came back later, armed with sophisticated weapons.
They shot and killed anything in sight. By the time the villagers realised, about ten people had been killed; several others were missing. Others had to flee to the neighbouring Gboko Local Government Area.
Mallam Garus Gololo, Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association (an umbrella organisation that looks after the interests of the Hausa Fulani Muslim herders across West Africa), denied that the attack was carried out by the herders in Benue state.
He claimed that the attackers were not the ‘ordinary’ Fulani who, he said, ‘have no other interests than to look after their herds.’ He told This Day Live that they may have come from another Middle Belt State, Taraba.
There are also reports that this particular Fulani group are too heavily armed and very sophisticated, that they seem to come from places beyond Nigeria, as the Governor of a third Middle Belt state, Kaduna, has affirmed about Fulani attacks in his state.
However, the recent Fulani attackers appeared to have a good geographical knowledge of the local communities and the villages. After the attack in Mkgovur, another attack was carried out two days later in the village of Tombo-Mbalagh, Buruku LGA. This Hausa Fulani Muslim herdsmen attack was directed mostly against an unarmed Christian population going about its normal business. About eight people were killed and three others were reported missing.
There are other attacks that have been recorded within the given time frame.
Speaking on Channels Television on Wednesday, March 15 , the state governor, Samuel Ortom confirmed that there is a limit to which he can ask the people of the state to be patient.
If the federal government did not intervene, locals say retaliatory attacks will not be ruled out.
Pls share this piece. Thanks
- Suspected Fulani herdsmen have continued to plague agrarian communities in Benue
- Governor Ortom has declared that all Fulani herdsmen must leave the state with immediate effect
Emerging reports show that the death toll between 10th to 20th March has risen to 60 in Benue state, following alleged attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
Nigeria’s police chief, Ibrahim K Idris says he is deploying a special tactical force to deal with the continuing violence.
The police special tactical force is to comprise of Police Mobile Force (PMF specially trained Anti Riot Policemen), Counter Terrorism Units, Conventional Policemen, Special Anti Robbery Squad, SIB, detachment of EOD, Police K9 (Sniffer Dogs Section), Police Air wing (Aerial Surveillance Helicopters) and other undercover operatives.
According to a police statement obtained, the police special tactical force is led by the commissioner of police in charge of PMF, Force Headquarters in Abuja, under the supervision of deputy Inspector General of Police, department of operations.
The attack on Friday March 10, began in Mkgovur village, on the outskirts of Buruku town. When the Hausa Fulani Muslim herders were prevented from grazing their cattle on the farms of the indigenous Christian community, they came back later, armed with sophisticated weapons.
They shot and killed anything in sight. By the time the villagers realised, about ten people had been killed; several others were missing. Others had to flee to the neighbouring Gboko Local Government Area.
Mallam Garus Gololo, Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association (an umbrella organisation that looks after the interests of the Hausa Fulani Muslim herders across West Africa), denied that the attack was carried out by the herders in Benue state.
He claimed that the attackers were not the ‘ordinary’ Fulani who, he said, ‘have no other interests than to look after their herds.’ He told This Day Live that they may have come from another Middle Belt State, Taraba.
There are also reports that this particular Fulani group are too heavily armed and very sophisticated, that they seem to come from places beyond Nigeria, as the Governor of a third Middle Belt state, Kaduna, has affirmed about Fulani attacks in his state.
However, the recent Fulani attackers appeared to have a good geographical knowledge of the local communities and the villages. After the attack in Mkgovur, another attack was carried out two days later in the village of Tombo-Mbalagh, Buruku LGA. This Hausa Fulani Muslim herdsmen attack was directed mostly against an unarmed Christian population going about its normal business. About eight people were killed and three others were reported missing.
There are other attacks that have been recorded within the given time frame.
Speaking on Channels Television on Wednesday, March 15 , the state governor, Samuel Ortom confirmed that there is a limit to which he can ask the people of the state to be patient.
If the federal government did not intervene, locals say retaliatory attacks will not be ruled out.
Pls share this piece. Thanks
posted from Bloggeroid
No comments:
Post a Comment