Benue: 2 killed as herders, farmers clash again

While the renewed hostility forced fleeing residents to desert Daudu and Yelwata, a border town with Nasarawa State in droves Friday morning, angry youths blocked the major highway in the area for several hours to protest.
Similarly, there was pandemonium at the International Cattle Market located in North Bank area of Makurdi about the time of the protest as traders and residents ran helter-skelter. Motorists plying the route mainly to Abuja made quick returns back into the town.
Sources in Daudu claimed that suspected herders attacked the area, killing two people in the process and that the attackers were rebuffed by the village youth in their bid to set buildings on fire.
Similarly, Chairman of Livestock Dealers Association at the cattle market in North Bank, Alhaji Madi Ma’aji said the chaos which broke was caused by a disagreement between a Tiv boy and a Fulani man, with no casualty.
State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ezeala has said that the cattle market disturbance was a rumour which caused panic. He also confirmed the alleged attack on Daudu by suspected herders as the reason for which the youth blocked the road but added that security operatives have restored calm to the vicinity.