By Bode Olagoke
with agency reports
No fewer than 20 people were killed in a clash between fleeing Nigerian herdsmen and Cameroonian farmers after the herdsmen invaded Cameroonian villages.
According to the Voice of America, VOA, the conflict forced thousands of Cameroonians to flee their villages.
The VOA quoted eyewitnesses who said hundreds of Fulani herdsmen fleeing conflicts in Taraba and Benue states reacted violently when Cameroon village farmers called for them to leave the area.
Cameroonian lawmaker, Walang Richard, told VOA the Fulani were armed and caught the villages by surprise late on Tuesday.
The villages involved include Efung, Afu, Gayama and Mayi, situated about 20 kilometers from the nearest military post.
Fulani herdsmen had raided the village of Baoro 2012. Cameroon’s government responded by creating a military post in that village.
Walang said more needs to be done to protect citizens in his district.
He also said the number of dead is probably higher than what the military initially reported – given that people have been scattered on both sides of the border.
Cameroonian soldiers have been deployed along the country’s borders to deal with violent spillovers from the conflicts in Nigeria and the Central African Republic.
