16 persons die in fresh clash between herdsmen, farmers in Benue
Just hours after President Buhari announced his decision to visit troubled communities across the country, another clash between herdsmen and farmers has led to the death of at least 16 persons in Benue.
New reports say the clash occurred between the warring locals at Omutu community in Okpokwu local government area of Benue state Monday afternoon.
A statement by the Benue State Police Command spokesman, ASP, Moses Yamu, said victims of the clash were mostly women and children.
Yamu said the clash was a reprisal after some youths in the community attacked Fulani herdsmen and ‘maimed’ some cows.
He said: “We received information from the security adviser of Okpokwu local government that some irate youths from Omutu engaged some herdsmen in a fight, maiming some cows while two herdsmen were missing.
“A peace meeting was immediately convened by the Council Chairman and the head of Fulani community in the area while a police search party went in search of the two missing herdsmen, one of whom was found dead.”
“Unfortunately, as the search and peace meeting were on going, some herdsmen went on a rampage, hacking 15 persons – mostly women and children, to death while some houses were set ablaze.”
Yamu said four suspects had been arrested in connection with the killings.
