BREAKING NEWS, Crime
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More than 30 people were killed when more than 100 Fulani herdsmen invaded villages in Benue and Nasarawa states on Saturday and Sunday, April 25 and 26
| By Anayo Ezugwu | Apr. 27, 2015 @ 14:45 GMT |
MORE than 30 people mostly women and children were killed by Fulani mercenaries in Guma, Kwande, in Buruku and Keana local government areas of Benue and Nasarawa states, on Saturday and Sunday, April 25 and 26. The mercenaries suspected to be more than 100 attacked Tse-Uosu, Tse-Gbudu Taraka and Branch Umenger villages, all in Mbadwem council ward in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
Similar attacks were reported in Mbatsease and Mbaatungu Aji, all in the Buruku Local Government Area, where villagers were displaced by the invaders. It was learnt that apart the 19 persons killed, several others also sustained injuries even as many others in the area had been rendered homeless.
A man who gave his name simply as Suunen, who fled from Guma said that the gunmen stormed the communities “while the villagers were having their rest after the day’s hard work and started shooting at innocent and defenceless people of the area.” Suunen said that members of the neighbouring communities had started fleeing their homes for the fear of being attacked by the suspected Fulani militias.
Another victim, Terungwa, said his mother narrowly escaped from Mbatie and that the woman had been taking refuge in Yandev in the Gboko Local Government Area.
Austin Ezeani, spokesperson of the Benue State police command, who confirmed the attacks, however, said the police were yet to ascertain the number of people that were killed.
Also in Nasarawa State, 11 persons were killed on Sunday during an invasion on Uoosu village in the Keana Local Government Area by the suspected Fulani mercenaries. Uoosu village was also burnt down by the attackers and laid ambushed on the Keana-Korta Road, where they shot at people on sight.
Problem reportedly started in the village following the alleged killing of two Fulani herdsmen who were allegedly grazing on a cassava farm belonging to a Tiv man in a village along the Udei-Daudu Road in Benue State. The deceased herdsmen were said to have been overpowered when they attacked the farm owners with cutlass.
The attack on Uoosu village by the Fulani was to avenge the death of two of their kinsmen. Ismaila Numan, police public relations officer, Nasarawa State, who confirmed the incident, however, said only three people were killed and that the command had started investigation into the incident.
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