Quote:John Charles, Makurdi


Suspected Fulani herdsmen early hours of Monday invaded Mbatoho community in Makurdi , Benue State capital .

Mbatoho community is a council ward located on an Island in Makurdi town.

Leader of the community, who identified himself as John Tehemen, led a few other residents to lodge a complaint with deputy governor , Benson Abounu, saying that the herdsmen had ordered them to vacate their homes.

He said , “Herdsmen who were fully armed with sophisticated weapons early hours of yesterday (Monday ) stormed our community, Mbatoho, and ordered everyone to leave.

“ The herdsmen came in large numbers but they did not harm anyone ; they only asked us to leave, ” Tehemen said . He gave the population of the community to be about 5 , 000 .

In response , the deputy governor said the government had just received the information from the community, adding that he 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 .

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 true story.

When contacted on phone , the state commissioner of police , Mr. Fatai Owoseni , told our correspondent that he had just received the report .