By Peter Duru

MAKURDI – No fewer than 15 persons were feared dead, Monday, in a clash between Fulani herdsmen and natives of Tiv community in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.

Sources told Vanguard that the invading herdsmen stormed the Tyoughatee and Gbaange-Tongov districts of Gwer West weekend, killing, maiming and burning down houses, farmlands and huts. Earlier in the year, a similar clash left over 45 dead.

According to sources, the invasion has left women and children taking shelter in nearby bushes and forests in neighbouring communities of Gwer West.

The Ter Nagi and paramount ruler of the community, Chief Daniel Abomtse, frowned at the continuous attack on his domain by Fulani herdsmen as well as the nonchalant attitude of both the state and Federal governments.

Chief Abomtse said he had earlier informed the state government as well as other relevant agencies about plans over the latest invasion.

The letter entitled, Grand Plan to Annihilate Gwer West People by Fulani Herdsmen and their Mercenaries, read in part: “Information had it that the Fulani herdsmen intend to invade Gwer West, crossing from the Obendo, Ijiwo axis from Akpanaja in Nasarawa State into Tyoughatee and Gbaange/Tongov district of Gwer West at a location between Mbaku communities of Makurdi and invade the whole of the district which stretches 16 kilometres of Makurdi-Naka road and then advance to Naka town, headquarters of Gwer West.

”They also plan to attack and burn down my palace with explosives and sophisticated automatic fire arms.”

He said the attack took place late Saturday night, when the herdsmen invaded Tyoughatee village, an attack that lasted till dawn and left 10 persons dead with some still on accounted for, while many unidentified corpses littered around the affected communities.