There’s palpable rigidity in Ataroga, a border community between Ebonyi and Benue states, following an attack by suspected gunmen on Fulani herders, ensuing within the killing of over 30 cows.

PROMOTED SONG

• play
• pause
• stop
• mute
• unmute
• max volume

Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.

Broken LoveGmix BerryFREE DOWNLOAD

0:00

The incident occurred within the early hours of Wednesday, when residents have been reportedly woke up by the sound of gunshots.

Ataroga is an Izzi-speaking community situated in Ado Native Authorities Space of Benue State.

Talking to journalists, the village head, Chief Nwedoga James, stated the community was thrown into panic after gunmen invaded the realm and killed a number of cows belonging to herders who had lived peacefully within the community for many years.

Based on him, following the attack, the herders accused villagers of masterminding the incident and allegedly launched into reprisal actions, resulting in the arrest of seven community members by the police. The arrested individuals have been taken to Igumale, the place they’re at present detained.

Chief Nwedoga additional alleged that the herders have since been destroying homes and looting properties within the community, and appealed to the governors of Ebonyi and Benue states, Francis Nwifuru and Hyacinth Alia, respectively, to urgently intervene.

“We have been woken up early on Thursday morning by the sound of gunshots. Households bumped into close by bushes out of worry. By morning, we found that unknown gunmen had attacked the herders and killed about 30 cows,” he stated.

“Out of worry, many villagers fled the community. Later, the police got here and arrested seven individuals, who have been taken to Igumale.”

He disclosed that regardless of an intervention by the Chairman of Ado Native Authorities Space, who appealed to the herders to not perform reprisal assaults whereas investigations continued, the state of affairs has worsened.

“We’ve got lived peacefully with these herders for years. We’re harmless, but our homes are being destroyed and residents harassed. We’re pleading with our governors to come back to our rescue,” he added.

Different stakeholders, together with Mr Odebe Odegu and a church chief, Mr Anthony Nwibo, described the state of affairs as disturbing and referred to as on leaders of the 2 states, in addition to the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, to intervene urgently.

“We’re in deep trouble. The Izzi individuals listed below are handled like strangers. We’re neither absolutely Benue nor Ebonyi. We’re being accused of against the law we didn’t commit,” they lamented.

“Our individuals are being attacked, our homes destroyed, and our properties looted. Herdsmen are looting houses and harassing residents. We’d like pressing assist,” the village head cried out.

In the meantime, victims of the alleged looting, Mr Lawrence Ogodo, a chemist store proprietor, and Mr Joseph Agashi, a provision retailer operator and pharmacist, stated their retailers have been looted at Aswa Chibueze and Igwebuike markets, together with over ten different retailers.

As of the time of submitting this report, seven community members stay in detention, whereas rigidity stays excessive within the space amid fears of additional violence.