Fresh Farmers/Herders Clash Claims 7 in Benue
Afresh crisis between herders and farmers yesterday have allegedly claimed the lives of at least seven people in TomboMbalagh community of Buruku Local Government Area in Benue State.
This was happening barely one week after the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, vowed that everything possible would be done to restore peace between the Tiv people in Benue and the Fulani cattle breeders so that they can live together again harmoniously.
The royal father who spoke during the coronation ceremony of Tor Tiv, V, Prof. James Ayatse, in Gboko expressed optimism that the enthronement of the new king offered a new dawn to rekindle the lost love between the Fulani and Tiv people.
But, an attack on the Tiv speaking area of Dogo in Tombo community according to locals yesterday has forced the villagers to desert their homes in droves.
Spokesman of the Benue State Police Command, Moses Joel Yamu, however confirmed one person dead as he explained that the crisis began with an argument between the Fulani herders and Tiv youths in the area over attacks on cows.
Yamu said that the trouble which had spanned through two days left some of the Tiv youths injured while some cattle belonging to the Fulanis were machete and others strayed away.
He added: “Today [yesterday] at about noon we had reports that some Tiv youths allegedly from Tongur in Kastina Ala LGA attacked a Fulani camp and scattered their cattle at Dogo Tomboh in Buruku. The DPO led policemen to the area where three persons with machete cuts were led to the General hospital, Gboko for treatment but one of the injured died on the way.”