Locals at Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area (LGA), Benue State, are calling for the pull-out of Nigerian soldiers at Yelewata, questioning their commitment to ending the destruction of farms and killings by the militant wing of cattle owners in the area.
James Ayangaor (name has been changed) told TNT at Yelewata on Sunday, August 10, that cattle are still grazing on fields while farms about a kilometre from the town remain inaccessible.
Locals say federal troops stationed in the community don’t take action, even when an invasion of fields is reported, praising men of the Mobile Force, Nigeria Police, for their efforts.
Now, less than 24 hours after Ayangaor spoke with TNT, the militants have struck again, on Monday, August 11, leaving three dead – two men and a woman – with machete cuts. Eyewitness says the genitals of one of the two men have been cut off.
Mike Ajah, who escaped the attack, told TNT on the phone that they were on the farm when the gunmen opened fire on them.
He indicated that the armed men were hiding on all routes leading to the farms, from Yelewata town, because as they attempted to flee back to town, they were confronted by armed men at locations they had earlier passed safely.
Mike named those killed in the fresh attack as Mr. Peter Shinku, Mrs. Youga Udeji and Mr. Tyoalumun Anyam.
Meanwhile, travellers on the Makurdi-Lafia-Keffi Road have been caught up in traffic due to protests from Yelewata women, who are calling for soldiers to pull out of the community.
One of the travellers, Simon Ayongul, who was also caught up in the protest, told TNT on the phone that the protesting women had blocked the expressway, preventing movement for hours.
A few weeks ago, Naka residents staged a protest, asking that soldiers pull out of Gwer West for complicity in killings in the area.
In June this year, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa declared Yelwata safe after the June 13 attacks, urging locals who had fled the town to return.
General Musa said this while briefing journalists after a peace advocacy meeting with traditional rulers and elders at the Makurdi Government House, said more personnel were deployed to protect locals against further attacks.
At the time of this report, the police had yet to provide an update on the attack.
