Fulani herdsmen allegedly resume killings in Nasarawa after leaving Benue

Killings on Wednesday resumed in Nasarawa State as scores were feared dead when suspected fleeing Fulani men from Benue State invaded farmlands and homes of some communities in Awe, Keana and Doma Local Government of the state.

Daily Time gathered that some Fulani herdsmen invaded some farmlands in Jangaru area of Awe leaving scores killed and many hospitalised in some undisclosed health centres in Awe town.

A farmer in the area who pleaded anonymity for fear of being attacked said hundreds of thousands of herdsmen moving from Benue to Nasarawa to avoid the Benue Anti Open Grazing Law has heightened tension amongst farmers in the communities.

He said that farmers in the area and other border communities are having sleepless nights over the increasing number of herdsmen in the area, a situation that is forcing farmers to harvest crops untimely.

Another farmer who gave his name as John said the irreparable level of the destruction of crops is unimaginable and therefore calls on both the state and federal government to intervene in order to save farmers and communities from invading herdsmen.

He added that the residence at the border communities are living in perpetual fear of attacks by the herdsmen and called on security agencies to provide security in the affected areas to safeguard lives and properties.

Also in Keana local government council of the state, there is palpable tension in some communities where herdsmen grazed freely in people’s farms. The communities are Gidan Kpalev, Bature, Tse Mori, Tamen, Ikpe, Shatse Abee, Iyanwua and Ikpirayor.

According to a farmer in Bature settlement area who gave his name as Joseph Hembaor the herdsmen who where well armed entered into his farm when his wife attempted to send the cattle out of the farm they forcefully laid her down and attempted to rape her but was intercepted by a passersby who also sustained an injury in one of his hand.

In Doma Local Government, investigation has revealed that the herdsmen attacked farmers in their farms while working and matcheted them, although no death was reported as the time of filing in the report.

Findings also revealed that some herdsmen who had earlier moved to the border areas between Nasarawa and Benue have begun to make moves back to Benue to challenge the Anti Open Grazing Law recently put in place in Benue State.

When contacted the Police Public Relations Officer Nasarawa State Command, DSP Idrisu Kenney confirmed the killings but said it was only one person.
He however said that the command has commenced investigation into the crisis but has made no arrest yet.

By Augustine Kuza, Lafia