UPDATE: 60 Killed as herdsmen carryout several attacks in Benue state - Police chief

UPDATE: 60 Killed as herdsmen carryout several attacks in Benue state - Police chief

- About 60 people have died following seperate attacks by herdsmen in Benue state

- Suspected Fulani herdsmen have continued to plague agrarian communities in Benue

- Governor Ortom has declared that all Fulani herdsmen must leave the state with immediate effect

- A special team of policemen have landed in Benue to put an end to the menace

Emerging reports show that the death toll between 10th to 20th March has risen to 60 in Benue state, following alleged attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

UPDATE: 60 Killed as herdsmen carryout several attacks in Benue state - Police chief
UPDATE: 60 Killed as herdsmen carryout several attacks in Benue state - Police chief

A special tactical force assigned by the Nigeria’s police chief, Ibrahim K Idris, to deal with the continuing violence, has landed in the state.

The police special tactical force is to comprise of Police Mobile Force (PMF specially trained Anti Riot Policemen), Counter Terrorism Units, Conventional Policemen, Special Anti Robbery Squad, SIB, detachment of EOD, Police K9 (Sniffer Dogs Section), Police Air wing (Aerial Surveillance Helicopters) and other undercover operatives.

READ ALSO: Army prevents imminent bloody clash between farmers and herdsmen (Photos)

Herdsmen attack: 60 Killed in attacks on Benue state - Police chief
Herdsmen attack: 60 Killed in attacks on Benue state - Police chief

According to a police statement obtained by Legit.ng, the police special tactical force is led by the commissioner of police in charge of PMF, Force Headquarters in Abuja, under the supervision of deputy Inspector General of Police, department of operations.

Ben Ahmed, the leader, assured people of the state on Thursday, March 23, that the situation will be brought under control.

He made the statement while presenting members of the team to Governor Samuel Ortom at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi.

The attack on Friday March 10, began in Mkgovur village, on the outskirts of Buruku town. When the Hausa Fulani Muslim herders were prevented from grazing their cattle on the farms of the indigenous Christian community, they came back later, armed with sophisticated weapons.

They shot and killed anything in sight. By the time the villagers realised, about ten people had been killed; several others were missing. Others had to flee to the neighbouring Gboko Local Government Area.

UPDATE: 60 Killed as herdsmen carryout several attacks in Benue state - Police chief
UPDATE: 60 Killed as herdsmen carryout several attacks in Benue state - Police chief

Mallam Garus Gololo, Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association (an umbrella organisation that looks after the interests of the Hausa Fulani Muslim herders across West Africa), denied that the attack was carried out by the herders in Benue state.

He claimed that the attackers were not the ‘ordinary’ Fulani who, he said, ‘have no other interests than to look after their herds.’ He told This Day Live that they may have come from another Middle Belt State, Taraba.

There are also reports that this particular Fulani group are too heavily armed and very sophisticated, that they seem to come from places beyond Nigeria, as the Governor of a third Middle Belt state, Kaduna, has affirmed about Fulani attacks in his state.

However, the recent Fulani attackers appeared to have a good geographical knowledge of the local communities and the villages. After the attack in Mkgovur, another attack was carried out two days later in the village of Tombo-Mbalagh, Buruku LGA. This Hausa Fulani Muslim herdsmen attack was directed mostly against an unarmed Christian population going about its normal business. About eight people were killed and three others were reported missing.

There are other attacks that have been recorded within the given time frame.

CP Ahmed said President Muhammadu Buhari was deeply worried at the happenings in Benue and the deployment of the tactical team was in response to the call of Governor Ortom.

He pleaded with the people of Benue to avail both the existing security men and the Special Tactical Team the needed information that could ease the operation.

In his response, Governor Ortom expressed appreciation to President Buhari for the swift response to his distress call.

The Governor noted that his government had been proactive in handling security issues and with the combined force of the visiting team, unimaginable success would be recorded.

He recalled the efforts of his administration in recovering over 700 weapons from youths of the state through the carrot approach of the Benue amnesty programme, saying the situation would have been worse if the weapons were still in the custody of hoodlums.

The governor pointed out specifically that Terwase Akwaza also known as Gana and members of his gang who masterminded the recent Zaki Biam attacks must be fished out and brought to justice.

It would be recalled that in a recent interview with Channels Television on Wednesday, March 15 , the state governor, Samuel Ortom confirmed that there is a limit to which he can ask the people of the state to be patient.

He said if the federal government did not intervene, locals say retaliatory attacks will not be ruled out.

He expressed disappointment over the careless statements credited to the governor of Rivers State, Nyelsom Wike who has called for state of emergency in Benue.

Governor Ortom pointed out that the spate of killings in Rivers is far higher than Benue, describing the statement of his Rivers counterpart as unfortunate.

He maintained that rather than sympathise with Benue at this time of pain, Governor Wike had chosen to mock the state, praying that God should forgive the Rivers governor.

Governor Ortom sued for cooperation from both security men and the people of the state for improved security.

Recently, Legit.ng reporters risked their lives to cover the devastation wrought by herdsmen within Southern Kaduna.

Below is a video of their findings.

Source: Legit.ng

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