Thirteen Tiv farmers were killed yesterday by suspected Fulani herdsmen, who invaded two villages in Benue State.
Over 400 herdsmen, armed with sophisticated weapons, attacked Tombo Ward in Logo Local Government and Moon District in Kwande Local Government.
In Tombo, the bandits set ablaze the home of The Nation reporter, Uja Emmanuel.
They also attacked Anyibe, Tse Gbeleve and headed to Ayilamo, the administrative headquarters of Tombo, which is 15 minutes drive to Anyiin, where Governor Gabriel Suswam hails from.
Most of Tombo’s residents have fled days before.
Chairman of Logo Local Government Kester Ikyenge said security officers had been deployed to the zone. He appealed for calm.
In Moon District, the herdsmen stormed the villages in the night.
An eyewitness, Paul Ukeyima, said the gunmen surrounded the settlement and set the houses on fire.
In the melee, they shot at their victims as they escaped. Thirteen people were killed and over 15 houses burnt.
In Kaduna State, six youths were injured when soldiers shot them in Manchok, Kaura Local Government Area.
The youths were protesting the arrest of members of their vigilance group by the soldiers.
The military personnel reportedly fired at the protesters with their Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC).
Chairman of Kaura Local Government Kumai Badu said the situation had been brought under control.
He said the victims were receiving treatment at Kagoro, about three kilometres from Kafanchan.
An eyewitness, Kabosho Duniyo, said the incident occurred as some youths protested the arrest of six members of a vigilance group.
He said the soldiers received a call from a motorist, who claimed to have been robbed in Manchok.
“The response to the call by the soldiers led to the arrest of six suspects, who were taken to the monarch’s palace.
One of the villagers, who gave his name simply as Emmanuel, said: “As I am talking to you now, the women and youths have barricaded the road while others have converged on the palace of the chief demanding justice.
“We cannot understand why soldiers who are sent to protect us will turn and attack our people. This madness must stop.”
Another villager, who identified himself as Bitrus Gwaza, said: “The soldiers arrested the vigilance group men while they were carrying out their normal stop-and-search exercise.
“The men are helping the soldiers in ensuring the security of the area; but we are surprised that they came and arrested them,” he said.
