Ebun Francis || Suspected Fulani herdsmen on Monday invaded Mbatoho community in Makurdi, Benue State capital and othered members of the community to leave.
Mbatoho community is a council ward located on an Island in Makurdi town with a population of about 5,000.
John Tehemen, leader of the community, who led residents of the troubled community to lodge a complaint at the office of the deputy governor with deputy governor said that the herdsmen ordered them to vacate their homes.
“Herdsmen who were fully armed with sophisticated weapons early hours of yesterday (Monday) stormed our community, Mbatoho, and ordered everyone to leave, an agitated Tehemen informed the deputy governor.
“The herdsmen came in large numbers but they did not harm anyone; they only asked us to leave,” Tehemen said.
The deputy governor, Benson Abounu, while responding, said the government had ordered the security adviser, Paul Hemba, to go and find out the situation.
“The community has just come to inform us about the attack; I have directed the security adviser to report to Police and find out the situation of things. The village is right here (pointing towards River Benue) across the river, the deputy governor said.
When asked whether the state government is not worried that herdsmen might use the place as a launch pad, Abounu said government would determine the line of action when it establishes the veracity of the story.
The state commissioner of police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni when contacted said he was in receipt of the report.