The Caretaker Chairman, Ibi LGA of Benue State, Hon. Bala Bako, has accused Fulani herdsmen of killing a traditional ruler in the council.
The incident reportedly occurred in Karmen Community in the council on Monday night.
According to the chairman, the incident occurred while the community people were on a security meeting, The Punch reported.
He said, “We have some security challenges in Ibi and we have been making efforts to ensure that ethnic groups in our domain accommodate and live in peace with one another.
“The Chief of Ibi also set up a committee which has been meeting to find solution to the security challenges, and it was in one of the meetings that the Fulani gunmen attacked and killed the traditional ruler.
“They gathered and were waiting for us for the security meeting when suddenly armed Fulani men emerged and started shooting. The local chief was killed during the attack, using Fulani sticks, by the attackers.”
He said he mobilised security men to pursue and apprehend the perpetrators, disclosing that one of them was arrested.
Bako said the perpetrators were the same Fulani herdsmen that attacked Guma and Logo LGAs of Benue State, leading to dozens of deaths.
“We share border with Benue and Nasarawa states and most times these Fulanis crossed from Nasarawa , attack and go back , but we are trying to close all the routes they are using to cross and attack us.
“The killing in Dooshima and Gishiri around Sarkin Kudu were done by those people who attacked Benue . On their way back to Nasarawa , they killed anyone they met on the way,” he added.