Suspected herdsmen reportedly stormed Chille Island in the Mbatoho area, a suburb community in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue state and ordered the residents to vacate. According to New Telegraph, the herdsmen invaded the community on Tuesday, February 27 and asked the residents to leave.
Mr. John Terhemen who is the leader of the community led other members to the office of the deputy governor, Engineer Benson Abounu to narrate their ordeal in the hands of the herdsmen. He said the herdsmen asked them to vacate their lands to allow them graze their cattle. He however said the invaders “did not harm anyone and did not burn down our home, they simply asked us to leave.” Fatai Owoseni, the commissioner of police in the state also confirmed the report saying ‘we have received a report about that’ The deputy governor said they had gotten report of the story and wanted to confirm it veracity. He said: “The people said the Fulani herdsmen have sacked them, and it is just across the River in Makurdi town. But I have sent the Special Adviser on Security to go there and determine the authenticity of the story. Until that is done, then we will know the next action to take.”
Meanwhile, Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have invaded Gwamba community in Demsa local government area of Adamawa state. The attackers reportedly stormed two villages in the community in the early hours of Tuesday, February 27, and opened fire.
Several houses are reported to have been set ablaze, while the residents fled in different directions. Though details of the casualties are yet to be ascertained, an eyewitness who spoke to Channels Television said security forces have been drafted to the area to contain the attack.