Gov. Ortom imposes curfew in Gboko town as 7 suspected Fulani herdsmen were killed and set ablaze by irate youths

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, on Wednesday, imposed curfew in Gboko Town from 31st January until further notice, to prevent a break down of law and order after irate youths killed seven suspected Fulani herdsmen and set their bodies ablaze.

According to reports, the victims came to the park to board vehicles to Okene, Kogi State while some were on their way to Taraba State.

The spokesman of the State Police Command , Moses Yamu, who confirmed the incident, said, irate youth from the town carried out the attack.

“It was a skirmish at the Gboko Central Motor Park. The police immediately mobilised to the park but on getting there, we found that seven male adults, whose identities are yet to be ascertained, but believed to be Fulani by tribe, had been attacked, murdered and their bodies set ablaze by some irate Gboko youth in and around the motor park,” he said in response to inquiries by newsmen.

A statement issued by Tahav Agerzua, theSpecial Adviser, Media and ICT. to Ortom, said the curfew which will last from 6 pm to 6 am every day is as a result of security threats in the area.

“Those exempted from the curfew are those on essential services such as hospital staff and others who show convincing identification. He has directed security agencies particularly the police and the army to provide round the clock surveillance in the town so as to forestall a breach of the peace,” the statement reads.

“The Governor has appealed to residents of Gboko to comply with the curfew in their own interest as security operatives have been directed to arrest those found moving about in the town during the period of the curfew.”

Adressing newsmen at the state police command headquarters in Markurdi, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni said the police had made some arrests regarding the incident.

“It is a pure act of criminality which has no ethnic or religious colouration,” Mr Owoseni said.

“Those behind the dastard act will be apprehended and dealt with according to the law of the land.” he added.

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