Youths in Nyorgyungu community, Makurdi, have forcefully evicted cattle and herders belonging to Hon. Dickson Tarkighir, a member of the House of Representatives representing Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency, amid rising tensions in Benue State.
According to reports, security operatives escorted the cows and six Fulani herders into the community on Sunday night, triggering protests from local youths who demanded their immediate removal.
Atu Terver, Principal Special Assistant to Benue State Governor on Youths and Media Mobilization, has publicly supported the youths' actions, stating that while the lawmaker has the right to engage in cattle business, bringing in Fulani herders during this sensitive period was ill-advised.
"The youth of the area who yesterday told Hon Dickson Tarkighir to take his cows away from the area kept to their promise of ensuring that the cows leave the community, especially knowing that six Fulani boys look after the cows and were present with them," Terver wrote on his Facebook page.
He added, "Hon Dickson is free to do cow business, but with the Fulanis at this sensitive moment in his constituency might not be the best decision. We need peace."
Context of Tensions in Benue State
This incident occurs against the backdrop of ongoing security challenges in Benue State, where farmer-herder conflicts have resulted in numerous casualties. Recent attacks in communities like Yelewata have heightened concerns, with Governor Hyacinth Alia previously attributing some killings to what he described as "foreign terrorists."
The governor has also expressed frustration over the military's capacity to respond effectively to these security challenges, noting that security forces are "overstretched" in their efforts to protect vulnerable communities.
BenriNews learnt that after some back and forth negotiations failed, the youths took matters into their own hands and successfully chased the cattle and herders away from the community.
The incident highlights the delicate balance between economic activities and security concerns in Benue State, where the implementation of anti-open grazing laws has been a contentious issue for years.
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