Residents of Benue State have raised an alarm, over the death of 36 persons yesterday, and 150 others, in the last 7 days, saying that, “this is a genocide, and must be referred to as such!!”, .
Over 36 residents, including College Students, were killed by armed Fulani herdsmen, at Shikaan Mbagena Kpav, a TIV community in the State, in the early hours of Thursday.
Currently, the hashtag #BenueUnderAttack is trending on the social media, and residents of the State are expressing their anger on Twitter, over the failure of the government to protect its people.
See some of the reactions below:
@KatorTarkaa: It is impossible that all of the reports coming out of Benue and other middle-belt States are false. And it does not matter who the perpetrators are. Whether foreigners, unknown gunmen, or indigenous arm-wielding gangs, this tidal wave of killings must be stopped.
@timiPR: Has the government given immunity to Fulani herdsmen in this country? They are killing the indigenous occupants of Benue State, and nothing is still being done. This is pure Genocide.
@Ngr_KOLA: #BenueUnderattack Out of the 23 Local Government Areas in Benue State, the killer herdsmen have invaded and occupied 14, and may invade the remaining 9, if urgent measures are taken to curb this genocide.
@BenueFirst_: It is not a crime to Live! It is not a crime to come from Benue! Stop the Genocide in Benue! Nigerians, stand up for Benue! Don’t let our basket get empty.
@_SirWilliam_: Tired of saying #BenueUnderAttack, it is exhausting. Killings been going on for years by one group of people, and nobody has been arrested, nobody has been prosecuted. The solution right now is State Police and arming the citizens, nothing else.
@FS_Yusuf_: I will not call them citizens, never! I will not! I will call them their tribes, I will call them their religion, because there is a coordinated elimination happenings. They are killing #Christians in Benue State. They killing #TivPeople in Benue State.
@FS_Yusuf_: Ortom needs to know that terrorists have opened a war on his people, and he has to prepare his people to fight and protect themselves. Make we forget all the English wey we dey speak here. All of us dey mad! They are killing innocent Christians in Benue State.
@aproko_doctor: We cannot fold our hands and watch anymore. #BenueUnderAttack People are being killed in their homes and lands, and the government is watching. This is a ticking time bomb. Protect all Nigerian citizens.
@KatorTarkaa: As the killings keep rising and nothing substantial is being done, we all in Benue State and the entire Middle Belt may end up losing our lives, our identity, and our land, if we fail to rise up now! This is a genocide and must be referred to as such!! #BenueUnderAttack.