- 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 by NAIJ.com, 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.

https://www.naij.com/1095285-herdsmen-attacks-60-killed-attacks-benue-state-police-chief.html

lalasticlala

The Nigerian government should try as much as possible to stop all this kills here n there, I was listening to a radio show, when someone called in and said, since president Buhari was away, there was never a report of any kills, during acting president Osibande.


Sms vote Tboss to 32052

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Let everyone be at alert, if you allowed Fulani men to kill, maim and destroyed you.. I bet it you are on your own. Tell me how many Fulani men has been convicted with her incessant killing... Nigeria government is hiding away from the truth, those in power prefer to protect cow than human.. take bull by the horn. you can't die twice..

Funny moniker

this is no biafran thread the usual suspects who won't be here.

Buhari's presence is giving Fulani herdsmen killers to be this daring.I remember when he was on medical leave Fulani herdsmen went into oblivion.

The fulanis have a militant armed band who they deploy for the terror attacks. The leading fulanis in the country know this. Buhari and miyetti allah are part and parcel of this conspiracy. If not, why has an army operation not beiing mounted to tackle this, like in the case of Niger delta and biafra who did not even take human lives. Or should we believe that Buhari's nepotism is so boundless he is not willing to control his rampaging brothers?

When the Nigeria police tells you they're 60, in reality they're actually 160 or more. I want to tell the Benue people that at this point its not Fulani herdsmen killing them but Gov. Otom, I said so because Otom as the chief security for the State Possess the power to deal with those terrorists, Gov. Fayose is an example to my point, but Otom is either being a coward or a puppet to the detriment of his subjects.

For Fulani herdsmen to resume killings after the purported return of Buhari whereas they had remained silent all through Buhari's absence is a clear indication that Hausa/Fulani elders are propelling all the Fulani menace, and they do it for the atrocious reason of territorial conquest. Some times I feel like not sympathising with them but they are humans for goodness sake, reason was that they forth doggedly to maintain one fraudulent unity against BIAFRANS during the war and they are still chanting for the same unity under which their communities are at the verge of erasure. So you see why I don't feel like pitting them. When the Biafrans says they want to go back to their original land, its not because they hate anyone but to avoid all these unnecessary envy and hatred which compels one section of killer merchants in the country to be slaughtering their acclaimed fellow nationals. Peace and unity is the reason everybody should support the restoration of Biafra, once that is done sanity will return everywhere. RIP to this innocent souls of Benue massacre *a moment of silence for them please*