Benue monarch seeks help over Fulani militias invasion

The Chairman of the Gwer West Traditional Council in Benue State, the Ter Ityoshin, Chief Daniel Abomtse, has alleged that his domain is under the control of Fulani insurgents.

The Ter Ityoshin said this in a statement he signed and made available to The PUNCH on Thursday.

The statement read in part, “I wish to, on behalf of my council, submit to the President General of the Mdzough u Tiv of acts perpetrated by hitherto unknown strange Fulanis, who have moved into Gwer West Local Government Area, taking over half of the land mass, covering nine districts viz: Sengev, Mbachohon, Gbaange-Tongov, Tyoughatee, Saghev/Ukusu, Merkyan, Nyamshi, Sengev/Yengev and part of Tsambe/Mbasev, believed to be facilitated by the Coordinator, Civilian Joint Task Force Committee for Benue and Nasarawa.”

He alleged that the insurgents had visited his community ceaseless carnage, subjecting the natives to to inhuman conditions.

The statement added, “It is not an exaggeration to say that Gwer West people in recent times are xenophobic or have prejudice for the Fulanis for the way and manner they have been slaughtering them like chickens, which began in 2011.

“I strongly wish to, on behalf of Nagi Traditional Council, to state that since February 8, 2011 to date, the Gwer West area have come under invasion by armed Fulanis, who have perpetually terrorised the area on a daily basis, occasioning heavy losses in human lives and property.

“The large expanse of land in the basin of River Benue, stretching from the lower basin farms at the Makurdi boarders of Mbaku communities of Makurdi LGA with Gwer West, to a distance of 35 kilometers in length and 45km in breadth, is deserted and in the firm control of herders, who always migrate into Gwer West from the Rukubi-Akpanaja boarder of Doma LGA in Nasarawa State.”