For a while the Fulani clashes seemed to have been in abeyance and peace talks have been taking place, but that peace seems to be threatened following the recent killings
The attack was reportedly carried out in the early hours of Wednesday, January 3, in Okpale-Ogege, Edumoga community of Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State.
The crisis, according to eyewitness also left several persons in critical condition with severe machete and bullet wounds.
According to an eyewitness who chose to remain anonymous, the herdsmen besieged the area last Tuesday with large number of their herds which grazed indiscriminately on the farmland of the community.
His words:
“our people went to their farms on Wednesday morning only to discover a large number of cows and herdsmen grazing and destroying their farms.
“The people tried to stop them but the herdsmen resisted them and in the process attacked and inflicted many of the farmers with machete wounds.
“The people were forced to flee from the scene, and later today being Wednesday, mobilized youths of the community to chase the herdsmen out of their farms not knowing that the invaders were armed with sophisticated weapons.
“Unfortunately in the ensuing fracas, the herdsmen opened fire on the local farmers leaving about five of them dead and many sustaining serious injuries.
“As I speak with you many of the wounded have been taken to hospitals in the local government area while the remains of those found have been deposited at the mortuary though many are still missing and unaccounted for.
“Many of the people have also fled their homes for fear of being killed by the well armed herdsmen.”
As at the time of filing this report, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent, ASP, Moses Yamu said he was yet to get details of the incident.
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