Multiple threats to peace and security occasioned by herdsmen particularly at the border areas of Benue state with neighbouring states, particularly Nasarawa and Taraba, are becoming a torn in the flesh of Benue people. DANIEL AGBO writes
The persistent attacks and invasion of the borders areas by herdsmen with its attendant destruction of lives and property has generated serious concerns to both individuals and government of Benue state.
However, solution to the problem now seems to be eluding the state government which has been lamenting on the monstrous attacks on the state.
Increasing instances of monstrous attacks Much as everyone acknowledges the importance of peace to development and growth of a nation, there have been increasing instances that Benue communities were simultaneously torched by violence of high magnitude leading to heavy loss of lives and property.
Flash points of attacks occasioned by herdsmen in the state have been in the local government areas of the state and these include, Guma, Logo, Agatu, Gwer West, Kwande, Ukum among others.
The crises was erroneously before now, believed to be ordinary dispute between farmers, until after the state Governor, Samuel Ortom, promulgated a law prohibiting open grazing that also provided for ranching of livestock. The governor thought that it will bring peace between the herdsmen and farmers.
Attack struggle for resources and control Shortly after the law was signed by Ortom, leadership of Miyetti Allah, Kauttal Hore, a Fulani Sociocultural group, said the attack was a struggle for resources and control claiming that they were the original inhabitants of the Benue valley. They also said attack was a revenge mission, particularly against the Tiv people for defeating them in 1804 in their quest to capture the area during their jihad.
The Fulani Socio-cultural group also promised to mobilise their member to resist any attempts to prevent them from operating in Benue. They thought the only option for them was to forcefully dislodge the inhabitants of the state, and take over possession of their land.
Though there were earlier attacks in the state by herdsmen, the ones that followed after the Anti-Open grazing law and threats by the Miyetti Allah was dwarfed with fresh attacks by the herdsmen on the new year of 2018. Since then, the level of insecurity in Benue particularly at border communities have heightened with constant raids, killings, destruction of food stuff s and burning of houses almost on a daily basis. Schools and churches have closed down while farming and business activities have completely crumbled.
Thousands displaced More than 160 thousand people have been chased from their houses by the marauders and are living in Internally Displaced Persons camps under harsh conditions. Residents and even security men are killed by the herdsmen with reckless abandon.
22 policemen, three civil defence officers and even soldiers have been killed only in Guma and logo since the beginning of this year.
Government overwhelmed Government and people of the state seem to be overwhelmed by the level of insecurity in the state, particularly occasioned by the marauding herdsmen. In April alone, over a hundred persons have been killed across Benue including security men. Two weeks ago, precisely April 5, 24 persons were killed in Gwer West, by the marauding herdsmen who came and attacked four Communities in the area.
The attacked communities were listed to include, Mbapa, Mbapupuu, Mbachohon, and Enger, all in Agagbe District in Gwer-West local government area of Benue state. The residents said the herdsmen came in gorilla style of warfare, attacked and killed the 24 persons including women and children in the farming communities around 2am when most of the residents were in their sleep. Governor Ortom had visited Naka the Gwer West headquarters and lamented the attack on the people.
But just as the governor had left to proceed for his annual leave, two communities, one in Logo local government, and another in Ukum were attacked and ten persons were killed.
Simultaneous attacks These attacks took place simultaneously at Tswarev Council ward of Logo and Gbeji in Ukum local government areas. Two days later another bloody attack, now allegedly carried out by soldiers who were said to have come to revenge the death of their colleagues, said to have been killed somewhere in Taraba community sharing border with Benue.
The attack left over 45 persons killed, others missing and several houses burnt. Again, on 15 April, herdsmen laid ambush on police team at Anyibe in Logo local government area killing 11 of them.
Though the police had confirmed only four lives were lost in the attack, locals and officials from the local council said 11 persons lost their lives in the attack. Wednesday 16, April, six persons were killed at Agasha in Guma local government area of the state. The attack was also carried out by the herdsmen. Saturday April 21, herdsmen again attacked communities in Guma leaving 10 persons dead with its attendant destruction of lives and property. Chief press secretary to the Benue state governor Terver Akase, who confirmed the attack said the herdsmen invaded Saghev Ward of Guma local government area, Benue state and killed many innocent persons. He said the attacked communities were Tse-Abi, Tse-Ginde, Tse-Peviv, Tse-Ikyo, Agenke and Gbenke.
“Ten corpses have so far been recovered with many others injured. The armed herdsmen also burnt numerous houses, shops and other property in the area. “This mindless attack was unprovoked, and we urge security agencies to arrest the herdsmen behind the killings for prosecution” he noted. These were just among other attacks recorded in April.
Since new year day persistent attacks by the herdsmen on communities in the state have left hundreds of persons killed. The attack that recorded highest number of killings was the new year day invasion, which left over 73 persons dead.
Ortom’s logistic support As chief security officer of the state, Governor Ortom has responded to the situation by making continuous appeals to the Presidency and heads of security agencies to rise up to their responsibilities by ensuring the compliance with rule of law and protecting lives and property even as he has provided security agencies with logistic support.
When the crises which is now resulting into serious insecurity in the state started heightening, he adopted multi-faceted approaches to permanently solve the problem, by promoting peace and initiating constant interaction between the herders and farmers. The governor has persistently said that the anti -open grazing law was the best way to bring peace between herdsmen and farmers. On his inauguration day the Governor announced an amnesty program using first the carrot approach which led to surrender and destruction of over 600 sophisticated arms and ammunition leading to the reduction of crime in the state with over 900 youths embracing the program.
The second phase was the stick approach which features major assaults on criminals with the logistics support which the state government provides to security agencies. The twist in insecurity and killings in the state occasioned by herdsmen attack, is that people in Benue are living in fear.
The governor in recent visit to Gwer West to sympathise with the people of the area, lamented the killing of his people by the herdsmen. Ortom also suggested self -defense, maintaining that people in the state cannot continue to fold their hands for the herdsmen to continue killing them. He tasked the people to defend themselves even if means with stones saying David was able to defeat Goliath only with a stone. Mr. Shima Ayati, aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, said the widespread insecurity in Benue and Nigeria is gradually killing the country’s economy.
He said the insecurity has also affected small and even big time businesses as it has prevented investors from coming to invest in states affected by the crisis. President Buhari has failed Nigerians.
He cannot guarantee security of Nigerians. He is not fi t to continue as president of the country,” he noted. He equally aligned himself with Governor Ortom on the call on his people to defend themselves with stones. Engr. Edward Ujege President General of Mdzough U Tiv, in his reaction has regarded the killings as genocide targeted at ethnic cleansing.
“We are frustrated, we feel that this genocide on our people is ethnic cleansing. “The killing of our people could be likened to that of Jews in the olden days Germany. “On Sunday and Monday there was massive killing of people basically Tiv in 5 local government areas of Nasarawa state.
“I have put several calls to Governor of Nasarawa state Tanko “I have put several calls to Governor of Nasarawa state Tanko Al-Makura, but he refused to pick.
“The insecurity in Benue should not be because the governor of Benue has done everything possible to ensure peace in the state. “The ranching law is best way of bringing peace between the herdsmen and farmers,” he stated.
