No fewer than 50, 000 residents of Naka, headquarters of Gwer West Local Government Area in Benue State, yesterday fled for fear of possible attack by armed men suspected to be Fulani marauders.

"Secretary of the local government council, Mr. Mark Dewua, who spoke on behalf of the council chairman, disclosed that the situation was scary as it has led the 50,000 residents of six out of the 13 council wards in the council area to flee their homes," said a Nigerian Pilot report.

"Dewua, who further disclosed that 27 people had lost their lives to the activities of the suspected marauders since November last year, stating that two were killed last Thursday at Enger village, while 13 were killed a fortnight ago at Nyiamshe village," the report added.

It quoted the local government scribe as also stating that the people have lost all their farm produce to the attacking herdsmen who got them burnt down during the several attacks, adding that in most communities in the area, education had ceased to operate.

"He said the council was finding it difficult to provide relief materials to the displaced persons who he said had taken over some of the school structures as their temporary homes," the report said.

•Photo courtesy Nigerian Pilot shows some of the Gwer residents fleeing the area.