Following the killings of over 50 persons in Benue state, among them women and children, youths in the state as early today, Wedneaday, took over the streets of Makurdi to protest over what they called inactions of the Federal Government.
Armed Fulani militia had invaded two Local Government Areas of the state; Logo and Guma on Sunday and Monday, killing over fifty persons. The herdsmen had killed, slaughtered, and maimed peasants farmers in the state since 2011.
The protesting youths blocked the highway leading from Makurdi to Abuja on one side and on the other, blocked the road on the opposite side leading from Makurdi to Enugu.
They had paraded corpses of some of the dead on the main road, chanting war songs and brandished posters calling President Buhari to action.
Unconfirmed reports have it that soldiers have been drafted to the troubled spots even as Police confirmed the killing of seven members of the newly inaugurated Livestock Guards who are working in line with the enforcement of the Anti-Open Grazing Law in the state.
They were killed during the attacks by the herdsmen between Sunday and Tuesday.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benue Command, of the Nigeria Police, Moses Yamu said the herdsmen had also burnt up a marked Livestock Guard hilux van during the attacks.
Meanwhile, an umbrella group of Fulani herdsmen, ‘Mobgal Kautal Hore Fulbe,’ has raised alarm over alleged silent killing of herdsmen and stealing of their cattle in Numan and Demsa local government areas in Adamawa State.
The group in a meeting in Yola, said that over 4,000 herdsmen and their families were displaced by the crisis, following the burning down of their villages, along the banks of River Benue by Bachama militia.
Speaking at the meeting, the North east vice chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Mafindi Umaru Danburam, said that over 500 cattle were now missing.
Danburam, who accused federal government of bias in the crisis, accused the Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo of discrimination by only visiting Bachama villages affected during his visit to the state.
“The Vice President did not visit Fulani villages which were attacked by the Bachamas, killing women and children but was quick to visit Bachama villages.
“There has been cases of silent killings of members of Hausa-Fulani in the area, the latest is the abduction and killing of three Fulanis on transit and a traditional barber by Bachama vigilante group at Anguwar Green villages.
“We want to call on governments as matter of urgency to ensure the disarmament of vigilante groups in Numan and Demsa areas and deploy more security to the vulnerable areas,” he said.
Source: partly Guardian