The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) in Benue State yesterday alleged that soldiers killed two of its herders at the Adeke area of Makurdi.
The chairman of MACBAN in the state, Haruna Ibi, said the bodies of those killed had been retrieved for burial after the matter was reported to the police.
One of its officials, who is Ardo of Otukpo, Risku Mohammed, said the deceased were members of his branch and that they were with their coŵs at about 12 noon when the soldiers allegedly killed them and burnt their bodies.
He said the matter had already been reported to the police while the bodies of the deceased were being prepared for burial as at 7:00pm when he spoke to our correspondent.
But, the leader of a patrol team of the Operation Whirl Stroke, Flight Lieutenant Abubakar Mohammed, said: “I led my team on patrol of the area today (Wednesday) and in the course of our routine patrol, we came across herders with over 500 coŵs. As soon as they sighted us, they opened fire on us. So, my troops replied and then we left the axis.”
The Force Commander of OPWS, Major-General Adeyemi Yekini, said: “This is the kind of encounter we face everyday whereby herders open fire on our troops. When they (herders) kill us, nobody sympathises with us and nobody cares to hear our side of the story.”
