By Amos Aar
PANIC and commotion are underway at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO), following rumours of planned attack by suspected herdsmen said to be targeting the institution’s host community, Otada, and its closest neighbours, Okpamaju.
National Record gathered from reliable sources in FUHSO that herders and Okpamuju community had disagreements a couple of days earlier over invasion of farms and skirmish that led to the killing of cattle.
Our source noted that the tension as a result of the skirmish led to Wednesday’s rumours that the herders had mobilised for a reprisal attack.
According to a FUHSO student, who pleaded anonymity, the Vice Chancellor (Ag.)* of FUHSO, Prof. Stephen Obekpa Abah, has urged students to remain calm, assuring them that the rumoured attack is directed at a distant community, Odod’Aje.
Despite the vice chancellor’s assurances, fear persists among the students as residents of their host community have begun to relocate in droves.
“The VC addressed us this evening about the news we heard that Fulani herdsmen are planning to attack the school. He said we shouldn’t panic because the targeted community is quite far from here.
“However, we’re still scared because we’ve seen villagers living around the school packing their belongings; mattresses and Ghana-must-go bags,” the student said.
When contacted, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Sewuese Anene, had yet to confirm whether the police had received any reports regarding the rumoured attack or the previous incident.
FUHSO’s spokesperson, Mr James Unogwu, did not pick calls to his mobile for enquiries on the rumour, and did not call back as at press time.
*Corrigendum: This report previously named the Vice Chancellor of FUHSO, as Prof. Ediga Agbo. Our attention has been drawn to this error. The Vice Chancellor (Ag.) of FUHSO is Prof. Stephen Obekpa Abah. This error has been corrected and is highly regretted.
