*’I Alerted Benue Authorities Of Yelwata Attack, But It Fell On Deaf Ears’ –Farmers’ Leader Claims
By Sam Tyav, Makurdi
Human blood continues to flow seemingly unrestrained in crises-ridden Benue State, North-Central Nigeria, as barely 48 hours after the killing of over 35 persons in Makurdi, the state capital, another bloodfest has brought waves of tears and sorrow to the state.
In the latest incident, gunmen believed to be herdsmen attacked Yelwata town, Guma Local Government Area (LGA) of the State, in the early hours of Saturday, June 14, reportedly leaving more than 200 persons dead.
Most of the victims were said to be Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other Tiv farmers, including women and children.
Sources in the area said the attackers came about 1am to the community in huge numbers, armed with sophisticated weapons,at a time most residents were already asleep.
They were said to have embarked on a modus operandi that gave residents only one choice: death.
According to the sources, on arrival, the assailants proceeded to pour petrol on houses, which they then set ablaze.
In the process, they burnt down many houses, stores and other valuable items such as foodstuffs worth billions of naira that had been secured in the stores by some residents “for storage purposes.”
It was gathered that the attackers wiped out entire families, with about 35 persons reportedly killed in one large house.
People&Politics reliably gathered that residents of three communities of Mbanoughul, Udaya and Ucha had been taking refuge in Yelwata town, fleeing the herdsmen’s depredations, before today’s slaughter.
A resident of the town and victim who volunteered to speak to our correspondent on condition of anonymity for security reasons, raised a curious dimension to the latest killings.
The source expressed worry that the pogrom and massacre on Yelwata was happening exactly on the day the extended deadline issued by Tiv Traditional Council to Fulani herdsmen to vacate Tivland, expired.
The source further alleged that terrorists believed to be foreign mercenaries, who initially camped in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States, had recently relocated to Nasarawa State, specifically to areas such as Doma, Keana, Obi and Tunga in Awe LGA for unknown reasons, are to blame for the latest mayhem.
While commenting on the massacre, in a statement on Saturday, leader of the Benue Valley Farmers, a group, Chief Denen Gbongbon, lamented that his group had informed both the Benue and Nasarawa State Governments as well as traditional rulers about the impending attack as early as January this year.
According to him, his warning allegedly fell on deaf ears.
Chief Gbongbon said he was frustrated because he had even offered to provide more details to the authorities through his phone number, but that his efforts were ignored.
He commiserated with those who lost loved ones in the dastardly attack and urged Governments at all levels to take responsibility for the failure to act on the warnings and provide support to the affected communities.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Benue State Command, Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Udeme Edet, who confirmed the invasion of Yelwata town by suspected bandits was, however, silent on the number of casualties.
According to the Police spokesperson, the police had dispatched a tactical team to the town for reinforcement which responded swiftly to the attack and engaged the attackers in a fierce exchange.
He revealed that some of the attackers were neutralised.
The PPRO also disclosed that some individuals lost their lives while those that sustained injuries are receiving treatment, assuring that the police were still in pursuit of the attackers.
The spokesperson urged members of the public to remain calm as the situation has been brought under control.
