There was tension in the Nyorhyungu area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Monday morning as irate youths drove out a herd of cattle reportedly belonging to Dickson Tarkighir, a member of the House of Representatives representing Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency.
The tension followed the arrival of the cows on Sunday evening in company with six Fulani herders and a group of heavily armed escorts.
The presence of the armed men and strange herders sparked widespread anxiety among residents.
According to a resident who pleaded anonymity, “People couldn’t sleep. There was panic everywhere. We were shocked to see armed escorts with cows parading through our community.
“It felt like an invasion. No one knew what was happening or why they were here.”
By dawn, the community had erupted in protest, with scores of youths taking to the streets to demand the immediate removal of the cattle and their minders.
The protesters, chanting and waving placards, alleged that the presence of the herders posed a security risk, especially in light of recent deadly attacks on farming communities in Benue State.
Tarkighir reportedly arrived at the scene in a bid to calm tensions and explain the situation.
But his intervention was roundly rejected by the protesters, who insisted that both the cows and their Fulani handlers must leave the area without delay.
The confrontation reached a head when the youths, undeterred by security personnel, began chasing the herd out of the neighborhood, forcing the Fulani herders to flee with them.
