Curfew Imposed in Benue, as Clashes Claim at Least 10 Lives

The Otukpo Local Government Area Chairman, Dr. Innocent Onuh, on December 23, 2013, Monday, imposed a dusk to dawn curfew on Otukpo town.

The decision came after no fewer than 15 persons were feared dead in clashes between Fulani herdsmen and goat sellers in Guma and Otukpo LGAs.

Dr. Onuh also added that “security personnel have moved in to restore peace in the affected areas.”

According to Vanguard, the Otukpo council chairman was forced to impose the movement restrictions in the town following an escalation of the crisis that erupted when some Hausa goat sellers flouted the directive of the council to desist from trading at the town’s central mosque.

“Their arrest sparked angry reaction from Muslim youths in the area, who felt that their kins were being unduly harassed.

“They resorted to making bonfires directly on the highway, which led to heavy traffic jam on either side of the road that links the north and eastern part of the country.

“After failing to convince the youths to leave the road, Police resorted to shooting into the air to scare them away, which led to a stampede and the death of one Zakari and the injury of eight others.

“Despite spirited efforts to check the crisis, it continued into the night and early hours of Monday (yesterday) leaving four more persons dead and property destroyed,” a local source revealed.

In a parallel development, at least 10 people may have been killed while many houses have also been burnt down by rampaging Fulani herdsmen at Nzorov and Gbajimba in Guma LGA of the state.

Sources in the communities disclosed that the strike on the communities was a reprisal attack by the herdsmen, who decided to avenge an earlier attack on them by yet to be identified youths of the area.

“As I speak with you, about 10 persons may have been killed by rampaging herdsmen who have also set several houses ablaze in the communities and are also heading towards the centre of the council headquarters.

“We learnt that the herdsmen vowed they would not allow us celebrate Christmas in our homes,” the source said.
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