550 Displaced As Fulani Herdsmen, Idoma Clash In Benue

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About 550 persons were reportedly displaced by a conflict that broke out between Fulani herdsmen and Idoma farmers at Amla Village in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Dr. Innocent Onuh, disclosed this yesterday while conducting newsmen round the affected areas and the displaced persons’ camps in Otukpo.

“The total number of persons displaced by the crisis is a little over 550, and out of this number, children are over 150, while women are about 50. We have provided them a makeshift camp here in Otukpo, and we have been able to provide them with  relief materials to ease their problems pending further assistance.

”We have also ensured that security was beefed up in the entire community consequent upon the decisions we reached at the council’s security meeting on Monday. Aside that, we have also directed security personnel to embark on a man hunt of all those behind the crisis in order to ensure that they were made to face justice,” Onuh said.

Onuh also appealed to spirited individuals, non-governmental organisations, as well as the federal and Benue State governments for assistance, as he urged the belligerent communities to maintain peace as the government was on top of the situation.