By Peter Duru
MAKURDI— No fewer than 17 persons have been reported killed in Tyotegh council ward in Gwer West local area of Benue State following reprisal attacks by armed Fulani herdsmen on the indigenous community.

Vanguard gathered from a reliable source that crisis broke out in the community when last Tuesday, members of the community alleged that their farmlands were destroyed by grazing cows belonging to the Fulani herdsmen.

Angered by the level of destruction, the aggrieved community members mobilized and attacked and killed large stock of cows belonging to the herdsmen.

Our sources further informed that the herdsmen fled the community only to return hours later riding on horsebacks and motorbikes killing anyone on site, burning down over 25 houses, farmlands and other valuables while displacing over 3000 persons in the process.

It was also gathered that the crisis has spread to Mbakyondo village in Makurdi, where Fulani herdsmen also invaded the community allegedly killing two farmers.

Meanwhile, hundreds of residents of Mbakyondo village have fled the scene of the fighting to Adeke village some 5 kilometers from Makurdi town, where they have found safe haven.

Reacting to the unfortunate development, the Special Adviser to Governor Gabriel Suswam on Security Matters, Colonel Basil Kwembe confirmed the killings and burning of homes of Tiv farmers.