Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue state has given Fulani herdsmen in Tombo-Mbalagh, Buruku Local Government Area of the state a two-day ultimatum to leave the area.

Ortom gave the order on Monday in Tombo-Mbalagh during a visit to ascertain the damage inflicted on the community by herdsmen.

The visit followed the weekend attacks by the herdsmen.

Eight bodies have been recovered, while three persons are missing, according to the Sole Administrator for the council area, Mrs Justina Sorkaa,

Sorkaa’s account was contradicted by the state police commissioner, Bashir Makama. He said six persons died in the attack.

Ortom said that he had directed security agencies as a matter of urgency to lead herdsmen out of the area for peace to reign.

He said the herdsmen must leave since they were not welcomed by the unarmed inhabitants of the area.

Most people in Benue state were disarmed through the amnesty programme executed by the Ortom administration in 2015.

Ortom still believed that the measure had brought relative peace in the state. He thus encouraged the people to remain law abiding by reporting for appropriate action, any breach of peace by the herdsmen.

“Some of the displaced persons have moved in with their relations in Buruku town and those who do not have anywhere to go are with us in an improvised IDP camp here at St Peter’s Anglican Primary School, Imenger,” the Sole Administrator, Mrs Justina Sorkaa, said.

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