During an incursion of Odonto a village in the Akpa district of Otukpo Local of Benue State on Sunday, 2 people were killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
Sources in the community who spoke with THE SUN’s correspondent said, “2 nursing mothers also sustained bullet wounds during the invasion of the area by the Fulani herdsmen.”
Another Source namely Aba Ejembi revealed that “The attackers invaded the community in the early hours of Sunday leaving villagers scampering for safety while gunshots resonated through the hitherto peaceful village.”
He added that “remains of the deceased victims had been deposited at the morgue while the wounded were currently receiving treatment at the Otukpo General Hospital.”
Ejembi speculating about the causes of the attack stated that it may not be unconnected with the alleged disappearance of two Fulani men around the Odonto community two weeks ago.
“Recently, Fulani men claimed two of their men disappeared around the location about two weeks ago at a checkpoint which is non-existent and five vigilante men were detained by the Area Commander at Otukpo and moved to State Command and these men were granted bail on Wednesday last week.”
ASP Moses Yamu Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), verified the report and said the attack may not be unconnected with the disappearance of two Fulani men in the area two weeks back.
“We received a report two weeks ago that two Fulani men who were travelling along that community suddenly got missing with their motorcycle and all efforts to trace them till now proved abortive. Today’s attack may be a reprisal for that act.”
People disappear for many reasons. What happens if all other tribes also arm themselves and take the law into their hands like the fulanis wantonly do and get away with it? Why is it that the security agencies seem to turn a blind eye to the LAWLESS acts of the fulanis? I hope the killer herdsmen will be apprehended too?