Despite Benue Governor's Warning, Herdsmen Sack 5,000 from Community

Despite warning of impending attack by herdsmen on Benue State communities, 5,000 residents of Chille Island, Mbatoho in Makurdi Local Government Area of the state were on Tuesday sacked by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

Recounting the ordeal of the residents of the Island who matched to the office of the Deputy Governor of the state, Engineer Benson Abouno; Mr. John Terhemen said the herdsmen stormed the area shooting sporadically in the air while they ordered residents to vacate their houses.

"They did not harm anyone either did they burn down our homes. The herdsmen simply asked us to leave," Terhemen said.

He said the herdsmen however resorted in burning their houses and food barns.

The deputy governor however assured them that the state would investigate the attack.

He said he has dispatched the state special adviser on security to the area even as he stated that not much is known about the nature of the attack.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Awoseni, has confirmed the attack but said it was only a report.

He said the police have swung into action to investigate the matter.

The state government has stated that a member of the Benue livestock guard arrested in Ukum local council area by the military for cattle rustling and gun running  is not a member of the guard

In a statement by the state government and signed by the state Commander of Benue Live Stock Guard, Alhaji Aliyu Tershaku, said the attention of the Benue State Livestock Guards was drawn to a publication in the Blueprint newspaper of February 27, 2018 wherein the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 707 Special Forces Brigade, Major Olabisi Ayeni alleged that a member of the Benue State Livestock Guards has been arrested in Ukum Local Government Area by 'Exercise Cat Race' for cattle rustling and gun running.

"We wish to state categorically that the Benue State Government established the Livestock Guards but does not arm them. The arrested suspect is not a member of the State Livestock Guards. It is therefore misleading to insinuate that a member of the organisation has been caught with arms"

He said the guards of the state do not carry weapons and their role is to help conventional security agencies in the implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017.

"We therefore find the statement credited to Major Ayeni as a fabrication and deliberate attempt to find a reason to blame the Benue State Government for sponsoring militia."