No fewer than 50 communities in 25 council wards in Guma, Gwer East, Gwer West, Kwande and Makurdi local government areas in Benue State have been overrun and taken over by killer herdsmen.
The information officer of the State Emergency and Management Agency (SEMA), Mr Terna Ager, disclosed this in a statement entitled ‘Displaced communities in Benue State where Fulanis have settled with their cows.”
According to the agency, Gwer West Local Government Area is worst hit as all the 15 council wards had at one time or the other been affected by attacked unleashed by herdsmen.
The council wards that have fallen to the herdsmen’s deadly attacks are Sengev, Gbaange/Tongov, Saav, Mbapupuu/Tswarev, Mbabuande Kyaav, Mbapa and Tsambe/Mbesev, Sengev/Yengev, Merkyegh, Nyamshi, Tijime Tyough Ater and Njaha.
In Guma area council, Ager said some communities in six council wards which include Mbadwem, Nyiev Mbaba Uvir and Mbayer/Yandev had been lost to armed herders.
In Gwer East council area, SEMA said Mbalom council ward also suffered displacement of its residents.
The report also stated that at least two communities in Mbalagh and one in Bar council wards in Makurdi area council were lost to the invaders.
Also Moon and Anwase council wards in Kwande area councils lost few communities to killer-herdsmen.
Lamenting the devastating effects of marauding herders, the leader of the three socio-cultural groups in the state, Mdzou U Tiv, Ochi’Kidoma and Omi’Ngede, Mr Iorbee Ihagh, who hails from Moon council ward in Kwande area council, said the whole communities in the council ward had for many years been deserted following the incessant attacks in the area.
Ihagh, who is also the president general of Mdzou U Tiv worldwide, told Tribune that all public institutions, such as markets, health care centres and schools had been destroyed.
The retired comptroller of prisons called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency on insecurity in the state.
