The Benue State community of Yelwata has been engulfed in tension following yet another attack on the community residents by gunmen early on Monday.
Several residents were reportedly shot with many others feared dead.
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According to witnesses, the renewed attack prompted local women to protest in the streets, calling for the withdrawal of soldiers stationed there to their barracks.
Verifying the incident to in a telephone conversation, Matthew Mnyam, a former government official, said attempts by him and many leaders to persuade the women to vacate the federal highway connecting Benue and Nasarawa states were rejected as the women insisted soldiers leave their communities for allegedly refusing to protect them.
The affected residents also demanded immediate transportation to Makurdi, stating they no longer felt safe in the community.
“They should take us to Makurdi because the government cannot protect us,” one protester said.
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The attack follows barely two months after gunmen, believed to be Fulani herdsmen, on June 13, stormed the community in planned attacks, killing over 200 people, including internally displaced persons, with many burned alive during a night of brutal violence.
This was reported to be one of the most brutal attacks meted on recently in Benue.
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