George Okoh in Makurdi
The residents of Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State monday woke up to the news that five persons in Tse Tia in Wannune were murdered by Fulani herdsmen grazing in the area.
Due to the incident, heavy pandemonium broke out as youths blocked the busy Makurdi-Gboko federal highway to protest the murder by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
According to a source, the villagers were murdered in their farms by the marauding herdsmen.
However, a government official attributed the incident to a disagreement resulting from a motor accident.
Addressing the youths, the Secretary to the State Government. Takema Targema, appealed to them to open up the road.
His appeal was turned down as the youths frowned at his comments and demanded the recovery of the corpses which are still being held by the herdsmen.
The protesters urged the governor to tender an apology for misleading the public in attributing the incident to accident.
Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Yamu, said herdsmen in the area alleged that two of their members and five cows were killed.
“The Fulanis went on a reprisal attack during which a youth leader was killed. The road was cleared at about 1p.m. and normalcy has returned to the area,” Yamu said.
