Fulani invasion: Death toll rises to 43
From ROSE EJEMBI, Makurdi
Thursday, March 08, 2012
Death toll in the early Sunday invasion of Tiv settlements in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State by armed Fulani herdsmen has now been put at 43, even as 15 villages were sacked.
This is just as the people of the area have called on the state and Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency set up an independent judicial commission of enquiry to investigate the killings with a view to identify and bring the culprits to justice.
Addressing newsmen yesterday at the NUJ House in Makurdi, indigenes of Gwer West, at the end of their meeting, lamented the incessant invasion and gruesome murder of their people by Fulani herdsmen.
In a communique signed by the President and Secretary of Tyoshin Youth Association, Joseph Mom and Dr. Joseph Kerker, the indigenes expressed shock over the scale of destruction of lives and property by the Fulani invaders without any provocation.
They disclosed further that thousands of people had been displaced and were taking refuge in various locations while foodstuff worth millions of naira were also destroyed in the melee. Armed with some gory pictures of those who were gruesomely killed during the invasion, Mom said: “We consider this as a cruel and barbaric act, since we do not share any boundaries with these invaders.”
Mom, who was supported by the council chairman of the local government, Andrew Ayande and some prominent elders in the area, maintained that the Gwer West FADAMA area by the south bank of River Benue was the higest source of agriculture and economic activity of the people of the area especially for rice production and other cereals thus rendering the area highly unconducive for grazing activities.
“We are concerned that despite the effort by the state, local government and security agencies, the invaders have displayed superior military capabilities to overcome and overwhelm our communities.”
