Two dead in renewed Benue crisis

The Police in Benue state has confirmed the death of two persons following a renewed attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen against Tiv farmers in three communities in the Logo Local Government Area.

Daniel Ezeala, Police Public Relations Officer, said that the suspects laid siege on Tse Chembe, Ifer and Tse-Gundu communities.

Ezeala said that two persons lost their lives in the attack which lasted for hours in the early hours of today. However, eyewitnesses said the attack which lasted for at least six hours left five people dead.

Joseph Anawah, media aide to the governor, said the invaders killed and maimed as well as looted the property of their victims. He explained that the insurgents came in two groups and used different routes to invade the villages.

“One group came through Ikapa-Tse Gundu road to attack Chembe village. The other group emerged from a farm route and came out at Achive, where they mounted a road block along Anyiin- Wukari road,” he said.

Anawah said that settlers in three areas recently returned to their homes to cultivate their farm lands, following a peace agreement.

The attack on villages in the Local Government is comes barely a week after a peace treaty brokered by the DIG (Operations) of the Nigeria Police Force, Michael Zoukomo.

The treaty was between leaders of Fulani herdsmen and Tiv/Agatu farmers.

The GOC 82 Div, Maj.-Gen. Shehu Yusuf, has been redeployed to Benue to ensure timely resolution of the crisis.