Three feared killed in farmers, herders clash in Benue

From: Rose Ejembi, Makurdi

Three persons have been allegedly killed in a crisis between local farmers and herders at Akpagodogbo, Otukpa Local Government Area of Benue State.

This was even as the Benue State Police command said that no life was lost in the incident.

Daily Sun gathered that the crisis, which started on Wednesday afternoon till the early hours of Thursday morning left several persons injured and members of the community scampering for safety.

Sources from the area disclosed that trouble started when some cattle belonging to Fulani herders invaded some farms and ate up all the crops in the farms.

But while efforts to get the herdsmen to pay for the destruction of the farmers crops was going on, there was said to have been some disagreements which quickly degenerated into a free for all.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Moses Yamu, said it was at that point that the police quickly moved to the scene to restore peace while they also moved the injured to the hospital.

He regretted however that after a while, some youths in the area, for reasons best known to the,pm, mobilized and wreaked havoc on the Ogbadibo Police station.

“The injured were all rescued to the station and subsequently to Summit Hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, for reasons best known to them, the Idoma youths mobilised and attacked the OGBADIBO Police Station, causing serious damage to the building.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP. Bashir Makama,psc condemned in strong terms the unprovoked attack on the Police Station while calling on members of the public, especially the youth, to desist from taking laws into their hands”, Yamu said