Angry Youths Chase Away Fulani Herders, Cows Escorted by Armed Soldiers Linked to Benue Lawmaker

Tension erupted in the Nyorhyungu area of Makurdi, Benue State, on Monday morning as angry youths forcefully expelled a herd of cattle and their Fulani herders, who were reportedly escorted by armed soldiers and linked to a federal lawmaker.

The cows, said to belong to Hon. Dickson Tarkighir, the member representing Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, had arrived in the community on Sunday evening. Eyewitnesses reported that the herd was accompanied by six Fulani herders and a team of heavily armed escorts, triggering immediate panic and suspicion among local residents.

“The sight of armed soldiers with herders and cattle in our neighborhood was frightening,” one resident told SK Blog. “People couldn’t sleep. No one knew what their intentions were. It felt like an invasion.”

By dawn, the unease had escalated into open protest. Dozens of youths gathered on the streets, chanting slogans and demanding the immediate removal of the cattle and their handlers. The protesters said the presence of the herders posed a serious security risk, citing the history of deadly attacks on farming communities in Benue State attributed to violent herdsmen.

Hon. Tarkighir reportedly arrived at the scene in an attempt to calm the situation and offer clarification. However, his intervention was rejected by the agitated youths, who insisted that the cattle and the Fulani herders leave the area without delay.

The standoff intensified when the protesters, ignoring the presence of security personnel, began chasing the cows out of the community. The herders, caught off guard, fled the area with the cattle.

The incident underscores growing community resistance to the presence of herders in Benue, a state that has seen years of deadly clashes between farmers and armed herders. While authorities have yet to issue an official statement, tensions remain high in the area as residents continue to demand greater protection and transparency regarding the movement of cattle and armed escorts in their communities.