With placards in tow, families of the victims of New Year Day’s attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen staged a peaceful protest against President Muhammadu Buhari in Makurdi, Benue State, on Monday.
Curiously, in another part of the country, the killer herdsmen seemed undeterred, as they reportedly clashed with farmers in Ebonyi State, leading to the death of three persons on the same day that Buhari was visiting Benue State.
President Buhari was on a one-day visit to Benue State to find lasting solution to herdsmen and farmers clashes in the state and other parts of the country.
The protesters who were about 50 in number carried placards to Government House in Makurdi, venue of the meeting between Buhari and the people of Benue State.
Security personnel prevented the protesters from gaining access into the Government House.
They, however, staged a peaceful protest at Government House roundabout and openly displayed placards.
The protesters were decked in all black outfits, sing songs of mourning and asked President Buhari to end the killings or resign.
Some of the placards read: “End the killings or resign”, “Buhari, everyone is a Yusuf.”
The placards featured pictures of those killed on New Year Day.
At the time the President was leaving for the airport, the protesters displayed their placards boldly and sang loudly.
It was not clear if the President heard or sighted the protesters.
But while the Benue drama was going on, three persons were reportedly killed as farmers clashed with herdsmen in Igbeagu Community, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The incident, according to sources, happened Monday morning in Anyanwuigwe village, in Igbeagu community.
Police spokesman, Loveth Odah confirmed the incident. She said two herdsmen attacked a villager who had gone to feed his cattle in the bush, and after an altercation with him, chopped off his hands.
“As they were attacking him, he managed to raise an alarm and more villagers came to his rescue,” she added.
Ms. Odah, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the herdsmen also attacked the villagers who came to the farmer’s rescue. The herdsmen reportedly inflicted machete cuts on three villagers before fleeing.
”But the villagers chased and caught up with them and beat them up before handing them over to the military men stationed close to the community. The three wounded villagers were rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, FETHA where two of them later died.
“Also, one of the herdsmen later died as he was rushed to the hospital,” the police spokesperson said.