20 Tiv Farmers Killed In Fresh Benue Attacks As Suswam Attends PDP Rally In Minna

No fewer than 20 Tiv farmers were killed yesterday in the latest onslaught by suspected Fulani herdsmen on Ayilamo, Tombo ward, Gaambe Tiev, home town of Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State.

All the settlements are in Logo Local Government Area of the state.

Ayilamo, a settlement of over 400 people on the Abinsi/Wukari Highway, was razed by the rampaging attackers.

The hoodlums had, earlier on Thursday attacked Tombo ward, setting ablaze Tse Dzungwe.

The attack also spread to Tse Akpam, Adzege, Uzer and Tse Gbeleve settlements the following day and and yesterday.

Governor Suswam was busy attending the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, North-Central solidarity and unity rally in Minna, Niger State, when the marauders struck.

Information Nigeria recalls that the governor had last month pleaded with President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene in the frequent Tiv-Fulani herdsmen clash in his state, which he noted that if not nipped in the bud, could become a terrible monster just like the Boko Haram scourge.

It was learnt that residents of Ayilamo, who apparently acted on a tip-off, escaped the impending attack such that when the herdsmen came, they had a free reign as there was nobody to put up a fight.

Houses belonging to prominent persons including Special Adviser on Special Duties to Suswam, Joseph Tsavsar; PDP Organizing Secretary, Moses Audu; a Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Head of Service, Shiaondo Alaaga and a correspondent of The Nation, Uja Emmanuel, at Ayilamo were torched.

It was learnt that the police in Ayilamo had also fled four days before the town was over-run yesterday by the invaders.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Daniel Ezeala, a DSP, confirmed the incident and said security operatives are on top of the situation.