Fulani Herdsman Arrested Over Clash In Benue, Fingers Alhaji

The Benue State Livestock Guards have arrested a Fulani herdsman identified as Amandu Wakili who has admitted working for one Alhaji Aliyu Tershaku in company of several others suspected to be responsible for the recent attacks on some communities in the state.

Mallam Wakili made the revelation today in an interview with newsmen in Makurdi, the state capital.

He claimed that Tershaku asked herdsmen including him to return to the state and continue with grazing of cattle in defiance of the Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law.

The herder who was arrested in one of the communities bordering University of Agriculture Makurdi yesterday openly grazing his cattle, said the they were instructed to move to Benue but be watchful to resist cattle rustling while also avoiding destruction of crop farms.

Wakili who spoke in Hausa said two of his fellow herders who were with him ran away with their cattle while he was arrested and taken to Makurdi by operatives of the Livestock Guards.

He stated that they came to the state from Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, stressing that more of their members were billed to relocate to Benue on the instructions of their leaders.

State Commandant of Livestock Guards, Mr. Linus Zaki while addressing newsmen on the matter, said they received intelligence reports that herders were grazing openly around University of Agriculture Makurdi communities and swiftly sent his patrol men who arrested Mallam Wakili for contravening the state’s Ranching Law.

He said the herder was arrested with a cutlass with which he used to resist arrest but was later overpowered by men of the Livestock Guards and taken away to the state office of the agency.

Mallam Wakili, according to the Commandant, would be handed over to the Police for further investigation and prosecution.