Killings in Benue State continued on Wednesday as three persons, protesting the killing of scores of people in six communities in the state by herdsmen, were feared dead in a violent demonstration by some youths in Makurdi, the state capital.
The protest followed the killing of residents of about five communities in the state between Monday and Tuesday by cattle rearers.
No fewer than 20 people were killed and 30 others injured when herdsmen attacked the communities in between the New Year’s Day and Tuesday.
The invaders attacked communities in the Guma and Logo Local Government Areas of the state.
Protesters in Makurdi on Wednesday almost attacked the state governor, Mr Samuel Ortom, during his visit to calm frayed nerves.
Security operatives saved the day by whisking the governor into a waiting vehicle.
To avert a breakdown of law and order, the military, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and vigilantes were drafted to beef up security during the violent protest.
Assistant Director of Information of Nigerian Army, 707 Special Force, Mr Olabisi Ayeni, however, denied knowledge of any death during the protest.
Also, spokesman, Benue State Police Command, Mr Moses Yamu, said, “The command is not in receipt of any such report please.”
Thousands of youths across the state had embarked on a protest in Makurdi on Wednesday, demanding an immediate stop to herdsmen attacks.
The youths, who carried placards, blocked Lafia-Makurdi highway, Otukpo road and Old Bridge Road and converged on the popular Wurukum roundabout.
As early as 7am, the protesters trooped to major roads, mounting barricades in strategic areas, blocking both entry and exit routes, which also prevented vehicular movement in and out of Makurdi.
President, National Association of Ihiarev Youths, Mr Bem Terna, lamented that despite the killings by the herdsmen, President Muhammadu Buhari had yet to make any statement or order the arrest of the suspects.
He said the protest would continue for seven days.
Terna stated, “The Federal Government is not doing anything to address this situation. In fact, it is conspiring against the state to allow this carnage to continue. The President is adamant over the issue. We will continue to stage this protest for seven days. We want the entire world and the international community to come to our aid.”
The youth defied the tear gas canisters fired by security operatives to disperse them while they kept stoning the security agents.
The demonstrators turned violent when Ortom visited them at Wurukum, insisting that the only person who they were ready to listen to was Buhari.
Security operatives had to whisk away the governor in a waiting vehicle when the situation became tense.
Meanwhile, Ortom, who later spoke to newsmen at the Government House, noted that he understood the pain of the youths, but called for calm and urged the people to go about their lawful business without fear.
He said he had already called for additional deployment of security operatives in Makurdi and local government areas of the state.
Ortom added, “We have asked for additional deployment of security in Makurdi and placed other local government areas on red alert. No curfew for now as it would mean more hardship for people travelling to their bases.
“I have reiterated my call on the Federal Government to arrest the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore because they have openly said they would resist the law on open-grazing, which is an initiative of the Benue people. There is no other alternative to ranching.
“But I think the right thing to do is for the Federal Government to arrest the leadership of MAKH or else, they are telling us that we are not part of Nigeria. Their threats have become a reality and they are living in Abuja with the Federal Government.
“If FG does not arrest them, then they are throwing us into a state of anarchy. No going back on the law.”
Meanwhile, Benue State Police Command said it had arrested eight Fulani herdsmen in connection with the attack on five communities on Tuesday.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Yamu, stated this in a statement on Wednesday.
According to the statement, six of the herdsmen were arrested in Guma while two were apprehended in the Logo Local Government areas of the state.
The PPRO stated, “Commissioner of Police, Mr Bashir Makama, called for calm as eight herdsmen, six in Guma and two in Logo, have been arrested in connection with the attack.”
The statement added that 17 persons, including seven members of Benue State Livestock Guards, were killed and their vehicles burnt and an uncertain number of people injured in the attacks.
Meanwhile, prominent citizens in Benue State have condemned the herdsmen’s attacks.
Mr Joseph Waku called on the Federal Government to declare emergency on activities of the Fulani herdsmen in Benue State.
Also, Benue State Chairman, All Progressives Congress, Mr Aba Yaro, called on the FederalGovernment to tackle the menace of herdsmen in the state.
Speaking with one of our correspondents on telephone, Waku, who hails from one of the communities attacked by the killer herdsmen, said he lost relatives, farmlands and other things to the latest Fulani attacks in Guma.
Waku added, “I’m a direct victim of the two days attack on my community because several lives were lost, also farmlands and other properties.
“For now, I cannot quantify what we lost because some of the bodies of victims of the attacks were yet to be found.
“I’m calling on the Federal Government to declare an emergency on the activities of the herdsmen and to also deploy soldiers permanently in the troubled areas.”
Yaro, who condemned the latest killings in the state, said the party was in full support of the anti-open grazing law enacted by Ortom.
He called on the Federal Government to show more concern to the people of the state and to join hands in condemning the act which he described as an act of terrorism.
Meanwhile, prominent Nigerians and groups, on Wednesday, condemned the killing of scores of residents of Benue communities by herdsmen on New Year’s Day and Tuesday.
They demanded that President Muhammadu Buhari stop the atrocities of the killer herdsmen.
Among those who reacted to the Benue killings are former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; a former President of the Senate, Mr David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yabubu Dogara; members of the House from Benue State; National Council of Tiv Youths and two civil rights groups. (Punch)