BREAKING: Tension in Makurdi as angry youths chase away lawmaker’s cows, Fulani herdsmen

Panic gripped the Nyorhyungu area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Monday morning as angry youths forcefully expelled a herd of cattle reportedly owned by Hon. Dickson Tarkighir, the House of Representatives member representing Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency.

The unrest followed the arrival of the cattle on Sunday evening, accompanied by six Fulani herders and a group of heavily armed escorts. Their sudden appearance sent shockwaves through the community, with residents expressing alarm over the armed presence.

“People were terrified. It felt like an invasion. Armed escorts walking around with cows, it was deeply unsettling,” a resident told IDOMA VOICE on condition of anonymity.

By Monday morning, dozens of irate youths had taken to the streets, staging a protest to demand the immediate removal of the herders and their livestock. Carrying placards and chanting slogans, the protesters cited growing insecurity in the state and feared a repeat of recent deadly attacks linked to suspected herders.

Hon. Tarkighir reportedly showed up at the scene in an attempt to deescalate tensions and explain the presence of the cattle. However, the protesters refused to listen, insisting that both the cattle and the Fulani herders must leave the area immediately.

The situation came to a head when the youths, defying the presence of security operatives, forcefully chased the herd and their minders out of the community, compelling them to flee.

The development has further heightened tensions in Benue State, where farmer-herder conflicts have claimed hundreds of lives in recent years.