Reps to Buhari: Declare killer-herders terrorists

House of Representatives has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to declare killer-herdsmen over the incessant killings and security challenges across the country.
It also called on the executive arm of government to put a mechanism in place to register known herders for proper identification. The House further resolved to summon the president for explanations over the killings, even as it had not fixed any date yet for the president to appear.
Briefing newsmen on the move, spokesman of the House, Abdulrazak Namdas, explained that the invitation was not a sign of disrespect, but that the President would be required “to provide answers to some security issues,” adding that the House had earlier met with the security chiefs, and yet the killings had continued. “There is no point meeting the same people, but a higher person, who also appointed them,” he said.
The House, which observed a minute silence in honour of the victims, passed a vote of no confidence on the nation’s security chiefs, urging the President to immediately remove the incumbent chiefs, and replacing them with men of fresher ideas that can address the lingering security challenges. It further resolved to suspend its regular plenary for three legislative sitting days in solidarity with the Nigerians who are mourning the loss of their loved ones, and in “protest of the alarming rate of bloodshed across the country.”
The resolutions were sequel to a motion moved, under matters of urgent public importance, by Hon. Mark Gbillah, who lamented the recent invasion of a community in Gwer West local government area of Benue state by suspected soldiers, as well as Tuesday’s killing of two Catholic priests and 17 other worshippers during an early morning mass in Mbalom community.
Fresh Benue attacks Again, suspected herdsmen yesterday attacked Guma and Gwer West local government areas of Benue state killing no fewer than 42 persons, locals have said. Blueprint gathered that the marauders attacked and killed 15 persons at Tse Umenger in Mbadwem Council Ward at around 5am on yesterday after which they again, around 7am went to Mbakpaase in Saghev all of Guma LGA, where they kill 19.
The Guma fresh attack is coming barely 24 hours after same armed herdsmen attacked a Catholic Church in Gwer East LGA of the State, killing two Reverend Fathers and 17 other Worshippers. It would also be recalled that another group of herdsmen numbering over 20 in military uniform had last Friday invaded and sacked villages at TomanyiinMbakpaase in Saghev Council Ward where 16 persons were killed.
It was further learnt that scores of people, among them women and children, were fleeing the village with luggage. A resident, who preferred anonymity, said “the attack took place close to where mobile police were stationed, but they could not do anything to go after the marauders.” The resident also said some of the survived victims who sustained various degrees of injury including a pregnant woman, had been taken to Wantor Bem Clinic at Daudu where some corpses were also kept. Chairman of Guma LGA, Mr. Anthony Shawon, confi rmed the incident on phone, stating that they had so far recovered 21 dead bodies. “The attack has left so many people injured. I came to Makurdi just now to arrange for doctors that would go with me to the place we kept the injured victims for the ascertain their state of health. As l speak with you, I am also on my way to Daudu with a team of doctors who will treat the victims and administer medications to the displaced persons.
It is when am done with this, that l can properly brief you press,” he said. Similarly, in Gwer West local government area, the herdsmen were said to have around 4pm on Tuesday also attacked a group of locals who had gone to their village in Abiam, in Sengev Council ward of Gwer West which was earlier sacked by the herdsmen. It was gathered that eight persons were killed in the attack by the herdsmen who first abducted their victims before executing them yesterday morning. A staff of Gwer West local government, who gave his name as Francis, told Blueprint that the victims who have been taking refuge in Naka, had gone home to find out whether they could return home, when the herdsmen attacked them.
“The victims went home to find out whether their village was safe for them to return but they were attacked and abducted by the herdsmen.
This morning (yesterday), they collected a phone of one of the victims and called his family members, but while he was still speaking they executed him. “The herdsmen also called and told the family members of the victims to go and collect the bodies of the deceased, but nobody can go there because the herdsmen are still occupying the place,” he said.
Chairman of Gwer West, Mr. Francis Ayaga, who confirmed the attack, said he was yet to ascertain the casualty level, but said the figure would be well above eight. “I cannot ascertain the number killed by the herdsmen during the attacks now because I am still gathering report. But I can tell you that the attack started Monday, continued yesterday (Tuesday) and even today (Wednesday), there was an attack.
“As I am talking to you, 10 out of 15 council wards have been taken over by the herdsmen.
The attackers come from Doma and Juwo in Nasarawa state, through Apochi, to unleash mayhem on my people,” he said. When contacted for confirmation, the Benue state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said he was still gathering facts over the attacks. Miyetti Allah fingers politicians The leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) yesterday said politicians had made the lingering herders, farmers’ clashes a “fertile ground” for selfish political gains. National secretary of the association, Baba Othman Ngelzarma, disclosed this during a meeting Edo state chapter of MACBAN and farmers at the police officers mess in Benin City. Ngelzarma expressed concern that politicians had given herdsmen unprintable names and declared “we are not a terrorist group; we are peace-loving.”
“And that is why the Sultan of Sokoto is the Chairman of MACBAN BoT; and that was why he gave us the mandate to fish out the criminals and identify the problems responsible for herdsmen attacks.” While condemning reported violence and other forms of atrocities allegedly perpetrated by some herders, Ngelzarma said: “we see these crimes as criminals”.
He disclosed that “genuine herders are also at the receiving end from the activities of cattle rustlers.” “These criminal herdsmen go about with arms. When they see armless herders, they attack them, steal their cattle and we have lost over two million cattle. It’s unfortunate that most media houses are not being fair to us; their stories are lopsided,” he said. He commended the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, and Governor Godwin Obaseki for the meeting, and urged other governors to emulate them. “We are reaching out to governors who will cooperate with us so that we can work with the farming communities to bring lasting peace,” he said. Earlier, the police boss said the meeting was geared towards finding a lasting solution to farmers, herders’ clashes and to ensure that both were law-abiding.
A spokesman for the farmers, Mr. Osadolor Odumamwen, said: “I look forward to see if their people (herders) will refrain from destruction of our crops.” ACF reacts Also reacting, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has described as “callous and unfortunate” Tuesday’s killing of two Catholic priests and some worshipers in a church at AyarMbalom community in Gwer East local government area of Benue state by suspected herders.
The Forum, therefore, called on the federal government to set up a panel of inquiry to probe the incessant killings that had continued in parts of the Northern states. In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, ACF equally urged that perpetrators of the heinous crimes be fished out and brought to book to serve as deterrence to others.
It stated: “Arewa Consultative Forum learnt with shock and grieve the killing of two Catholic priests and some worshipers in a church at Ayar-Mbalom, a community in Gwer East local government area of Benue state by suspected herders on Tuesday.
“The spate of attacks on innocent people including clergymen and worshippers in their places of worship is most callous and unfortunate. ACF, therefore, calls on the security agencies to be more proactive and re-strategise their security operations in order to nip these avoidable bloodlettings in the bud.
“Furthermore, ACF urges the federal government to set up a panel of inquiry into these incessant killings that have continued to bedevil most of the Northern states, with the hope that amicable solution would be found for common good.”