Fulani Herdsman armed with AK 47 rifle
Tension has again gripped Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State after two residents were reportedly shot by armed men suspected to be Fulani herders.
The latest incident occurred barely 72 hours after the Benue State Government distributed farm inputs to residents of the community to support farming activities.
Yelwata had suffered a deadly attack in June last year when suspected armed herders invaded the settlement, killing more than 200 residents and displacing many survivors.
A community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attack happened on Sunday when the suspected herders were allegedly grazing openly towards the Yelwata settlement.
According to the source, soldiers stationed in the area reportedly attempted to arrest the herders, prompting them to flee.
The community leader explained that the soldiers fired warning shots into the air while trying to stop the armed men from escaping.
However, the fleeing herders allegedly opened fire in return and shot two residents within the main Yelwata community.
“The other woman was shot in the hand, while the second one was shot in her leg,” the source disclosed.
The community leader, further, revealed that officials of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) evacuated the victims to Makurdi for treatment, adding that both victims were still alive as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, fear has reportedly spread across the community following the latest attack, with many residents expressing concerns over their safety and uncertainty about returning to their farms despite the recent distribution of improved farm inputs by the state government.
