No fewer than 10 persons were feared dead yesterday, in an
outbreak of fresh hostilities between Fulani herdsmen and farmers at Tom-Anyiin
and Tom-Ataan communities, Mbaya, Tombu in Buruku Local Government Area of
Benue State.
outbreak of fresh hostilities between Fulani herdsmen and farmers at Tom-Anyiin
and Tom-Ataan communities, Mbaya, Tombu in Buruku Local Government Area of
Benue State.
This is just as the Council Chairman, Godwin Iorsue, the
Divisional Police Officer at Buruku, the Area Commander and other stakeholders
in the area, on assessment tour of the communities, were ambushed and attacked
by the herdsmen who had seized the area and sacked the inhabitants.
Divisional Police Officer at Buruku, the Area Commander and other stakeholders
in the area, on assessment tour of the communities, were ambushed and attacked
by the herdsmen who had seized the area and sacked the inhabitants.
Vanguard gathered that the renewed crisis has created a huge
refugee situation in the area with over 300 people displaced from the affected
communities and scores injured in the bloody clash.
refugee situation in the area with over 300 people displaced from the affected
communities and scores injured in the bloody clash.
A source from one of the affected communities disclosed that
the Fulani invaders stormed the communities late Saturday night, shooting
sporadically and burning down houses, huts, food barn, farmland and economic
trees.
the Fulani invaders stormed the communities late Saturday night, shooting
sporadically and burning down houses, huts, food barn, farmland and economic
trees.
The source said: “As I speak with you, fighting is still
raging in the affected communities. Although I cannot give you a precise figure
of the dead, about 10 have been killed, many are missing and many others
sustained injures.”
raging in the affected communities. Although I cannot give you a precise figure
of the dead, about 10 have been killed, many are missing and many others
sustained injures.”
Meanwhile, the Council Chairman, Mr. Godwin Iorsue, who
spoke on phone, said that he had invited senior security officers to accompany
him in assessing the situation, when they were ambushed and attacked by the
herdsmen.
spoke on phone, said that he had invited senior security officers to accompany
him in assessing the situation, when they were ambushed and attacked by the
herdsmen.
Iorsue said: “It was only God that saved us. They were over
30 and well armed while we had only four armed police officers with us. Our
cars were perforated with bullets.”
30 and well armed while we had only four armed police officers with us. Our
cars were perforated with bullets.”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer,
Assistant Superintendent Moses Yamu, who confirmed the attack on the Council
Chairman and his entourage, said no live was lost.
Assistant Superintendent Moses Yamu, who confirmed the attack on the Council
Chairman and his entourage, said no live was lost.
Yamu said: “The people ran away from their communities in
fear of a possible attack by Fulani herdsmen, but there were neither killing
nor destruction of property in the area.
fear of a possible attack by Fulani herdsmen, but there were neither killing
nor destruction of property in the area.
“I can confirm that the DPO, the Area Commander, the
Caretaker Council Chairman and selected stakeholders were attacked by suspected
herdsmen when they visited to assess the situation in the area.”
Caretaker Council Chairman and selected stakeholders were attacked by suspected
herdsmen when they visited to assess the situation in the area.”
At press time, Vanguard gathered that fighting in the two
communities was still raging.
communities was still raging.
Follow Us on Facebook – @LadunLiadi; Instagram – @LadunLiadi; Twitter – @LadunLiadi; Youtube – @LadunLiadiTV for updates
