By Amos Aar
TENSION has gripped Makurdi, the Benue State capital, following a deadly attack bySuspected Fulani Herders on Tse-Aduku, a community located behind Apir Town, at the outskirts of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
The attack was said to have been carried out between Wednesday night, with at least sixteen (16) residents of the community reportedly killed and several others still missing.
Local sources told National Record correspondent on Thursday that the attack was preceded by the abduction of two farmers some days earlier in Anchiha Community, near Ikpayongo in Gwer East LGA.
In response to the abduction of the farmers, some residents allegedly killed undisclosed number of cattle belonging to herders who had been camped in Anchiha for over a year.
The herders were said to have mobilised and launched Wednesday night’s attack on Tse-Aduku, which shares boundries with Anchiha.
“People fled their homes after the initial kidnapping and the killing of the cattle, but some returned briefly to collect food and other essentials. Unfortunately, they were caught and killed by the armed herders,” a community source told our correspondent.
On the same day (Wednesday), suspected herders reportedly ambushed residents at Tse-Adem, along Welfare Quarters–Mobile Barracks road in Makurdi. However, no casualties were confirmed in that incident.
The recent spate of attacks within and around Makurdi has raised fresh concerns about the security of the state capital, leaving residents anxious about further escalation of violence.
The Benue State Police Command were yet to speak on the incident and efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) failed.
