Dare Babalola
Tragedy struck in Otukpo, Benue State as a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Ejeh Udeh, was shot dead by yet-to-be-identified gunmen at his residence.
The gunmen stormed his Ugboju residence around 12:00 a.m. on Monday and opened fire on him in front of his family, Daily Post reported.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that the assailants, who arrived on a motorcycle, laid in wait for him and as soon as he entered his house, they surrounded him and opened fire.
His body has since been deposited at the Otukpo General Hospital morgue.
There have been scores of killings in the state in recent times, especially caused by the clash between herders and farmers but it is unclear if Udeh’s death is connected to the crisis.
The state has been at the centre of a violent conflict between herders and farmers that has led to the killing of thousands of civilians and many members of the security forces in Nigeria’s so-called Middle Belt going back many years.
Herders, mostly from the Fulani ethnic group, move around to find food for their cattle, bringing them into conflict with the owners of farms, who say the cattle trample their crops and pollute water sources.
Some of them are armed with powerful guns, saying they need to protect themselves from cattle thieves.
The farmers often blame the Fulanis for the violence, claiming they bring their cattle to destroy their farms.
The authorities have not blamed any group but it is safe to assume that there are lots of victims on both sides, as any attack usually leads to revenge and then a cycle of violence.
Details later…
