By Ter Ukum, His Royal Highness Iyorkyaa Kaave, condemned the attacks during a security meeting in Makurdi, stating that these assaults on his people appeared to be part of a larger plan by the attackers to displace the local farmers and eventually take over their land. “These attacks started Thursday in Logo, and by Good Friday, they spread to Ukum. We are still recovering bodies and searching for missing persons,” he said.
In the early hours of Tuesday, the herders launched a deadly attack in Afia, shooting indiscriminately. “They killed eleven people on the spot, while many others were injured, and several are still missing,” Ter Ukum explained, expressing his frustration at the senseless violence.
The monarch also highlighted the growing threat posed by these attackers, emphasizing the stark difference between the herders of the past and those currently terrorizing the region. “The Fulani of the past would come in the dry season with their cattle and families to stay with us. But these new herders come armed with AK-47s and have a clear agenda to kill and occupy,” Ter Ukum stated.
He called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and address the violence, making it clear that the people of the region would no longer tolerate such aggression. “We don’t want to settle with murderers. These people are coming with a hidden agenda to kill and occupy, and it’s no longer a secret,” he declared.
The situation in Benue remains tense, with residents living in fear of further attacks. The local authorities have yet to comment on possible security measures to address the escalating violence.
