Tension erupted on Monday morning in the Nyorhyungu area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital, as angry youths forcefully drove out a herd of cattle allegedly owned by Hon. Dickson Tarkighir, member representing Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
The incident followed the sudden arrival of the cattle on Sunday evening, accompanied by six Fulani herders and a group of heavily armed escorts. Their presence sparked widespread alarm among residents, heightening existing fears over recent deadly attacks in the state.
Eyewitnesses described the situation as unnerving.
“People couldn’t sleep. There was panic everywhere. We were shocked to see armed escorts with cows parading through our community,” a resident, who requested anonymity, told *DAILY POST*. “It felt like an invasion. No one knew what was happening or why they were here.”
By Monday morning, dozens of youths had mobilized and taken to the streets in protest, demanding the immediate evacuation of the cattle and their handlers from the area. The demonstrators, chanting slogans and carrying placards, accused the herders of posing a serious security threat to the already volatile community.
Hon. Tarkighir was said to have visited the scene in an effort to defuse the situation and provide clarity on the presence of the livestock. However, his explanations were rejected outright by the protesting youths, who insisted on the immediate removal of both the cattle and their Fulani minders.
Tensions escalated when the youths, undeterred by the presence of security personnel, took matters into their own hands and began pursuing the cattle out of the community. The herders were reportedly forced to flee with the animals.
The development comes amid heightened concerns over the persistent herder-farmer crisis in Benue State, with local communities increasingly wary of any activities that may trigger further violence.
