Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue
state, was stoned while trying to calm protesters at Wurukum in Makurdi,
capital of the state, on Wednesday.
The protesters, who were
aggrieved as a result of the fresh killings by suspected herdsmen, also booed
Ortom, who had earlier raised the alarm over the attack.
The governor had gone to placate
the restive youth who vowed to remain on the streets until a decisive action is
taken against the attackers.
The soldiers drafted to quell the
protest and prevent mayhem are finding it difficult to control the crowd.
Residents trooped out in their
thousands on Wednesday morning.
Wielding placards with
inscriptions such as ‘Presidential Intervention needed’, ‘Why value cows more
than Humans’, ‘Stop this incessant bloodbath’, they chanted anti-government
songs.
They barricaded major roads
leading in and out of Makurdi.
Terhemen Anum, one of the
protesters, told NAN that residents of Guma and Logo local government areas did
not have the exact figure of the number of peasant farmers, women, children and
the aged who were killed.
Ruth Agba, another protester,
said the killing of Benue farmers and destruction to their homes and farms was
not different from Boko Haram activities in the north-east.
Meanwhile, the police have
confirmed the arrest of eight herdsmen in connection with the attacks.
Moses Yamu, police public
relations officer in the state, said the command had made additional
deployments in the troubled area to forestall further occurrence and restore
confidence of the people.
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