Herdsmen of the Fulani tribe downed three security officers during a gun battle in the latest violence over grazing rights in North Central Benue State in Nigeria.
Herders speaking the Fulani language launched an attack on Ocholonya and Ugboju k’Ugbe villages in Agatu county of Benue State since Jan. 12. Locals were forced to vacate their homes and flee to neighboring Okokolo village.
Okokolo, the safe haven, came under siege on Jan. 18. The Nigerian military stormed the village on observing from their base 15 km away the mass exodus of people from Okokolo.
The herders retreated after three hours of gun duel with the Nigerian troops of “Operation Whirl Stroke”, and the death of two soldiers and a paramilitary officer.
Clashes over grazing rights are common between Muslim Fulani herders and largely Christian farmers in Nigeria, particularly in the religiously mixed central states.
Read more: https://tribuneonlineng.com/we-lost-two-soldiers-one-nscdc-official-to-armed-herders-army-commander/
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
