THREE persons have died in the crisis between farmers and Fulani herdsmen at Akpagodogbo in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
Tribune Online gathered that the crisis started on Wednesday and lasted till the early hour of Thursday. Many persons were said to have been injured.
According to information gathered from the people in the community, some herds of cattle were to have eaten up crops of farmers in the area which led to the farmers attacking the herdsmen and their cows.
Youths from the area were said to have joined the farmers and chased the herdsmen.
According to a resident, “problem started around 4:00p.m. when cows strayed into the farmland at the time farmers were still working in their farms. This infuriated the farmers who chased away the cattle and the herdsmen.”
It was gathered that the herdsmen reinforced and attacked the farmers in the night, leading to death of three persons, two from the residents and one herdsman.
The traditional ruler of Otukpo, Solomon Ekele, who confirmed the crisis on phone, however, condemned the act.
Former Minister of State for Education who hails from the local government, Professor Jerry Agada, also condemned the attack.
“Our people have lived with herdsmen for a long time, even we have inter-married and any time you interact with the Fulani in our community, they will tell you that they are indigenes of the place,” he said.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Moses Yamu, confirmed the incident but said there was no causality.
and then