Benue state is bleeding from the effect of herders/bandits attack in which lives and property are largely destroyed. JOHN SHIAONDO writes on this.
Recently there have been increased attacks on communities in Benue state by suspected herdsmen.
The herdsmen heavily armed who have employed guerilla style of warfare against their victims usually come stealthily in the night only to leave a trail of sorrows, tears ruins and blood in their targeted communities.Places worst hit
The recent attack seems to be more deadly as the attackers hit their victims at the time least expected.
In Katsina Ala local government area of the state, for instance, four council wards have been displaced by the marauders with over 100 persons reportedly killed.
Other places worst affected by the renewed attacks by the herdsmen include Ado, Gwer West, Guma, Agatu and Makurdi local government areas.It could be noted that even Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps are not left out with the recent attack on Abagena Camp Makurdi located along the Makurdi- Abuja road, as an instance.
Within the past two months alone, the herdsmen have reportedly killed more than 200 persons in the various attacks on communities in Katsina Ala and the riverine areas of Guma, Makurdi Gwer West and Agatu local government areas, displaced thousands of inhabitants and are currently occupying the deserted villages, denying inhabitants access to their farms in the ongoing cropping season.
The killing has also resulted into a big humanitarian situations with over one million people are currently displaced from their homes.
Lamentations
The attacks which have continued to rage have also attracted the attention of individuals, organisations and the state government as to the negative effect it has posed on the people and state.
Benue women under the name Concerned Benue Mothers following the attacks recently staged a protest through a press conference in which they condemned the attacks and urged the federal government under the leadership of President Mohammadu Buhari to address the attacks on innocent people by the herdsmen with all seriousness.
The women in the press conference which was held in Makurdi, urged the president to remember his obligation to the people. They said that, “Our children and grand children also deserve a decent future; a future they would no longer be afraid to go to bed with the thought of being slaughtered by rampaging herders.”
According to them, the thousands of children whose parents were killed by herdsmen and are now in internally displaced persons camps for four years as orphans also deserve to live in a country they call their own.
“What about the hundreds of widows whose husbands were slaughtered by herders and thrown to the birds to feed? Don’t they deserve to return to their lonely homes to start life in the dehumanizing way?
“At the last count, Benue had over one million displaced people!”We Concerned Benue Mothers have also observed a disturbing trend where Fulani militia attack our people but the federal government comes out swiftly to absolve them of any blame.
“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently address the nation and caution Fulani herdsmen to stop the killings.
“President Buhari should motivate security agencies and direct them to be professional and neutral in the discharge of their duties.
“We also expect Mr President to call his appointees to order to stop assaulting the sensibilities of Nigerians.
“We call on the international communities and lovers of peace across the world to show interest in what is happening in Nigeria, particularly in the Middle Belt region where killings of innocent people by herders have become a common sight.
“Benue for instance, is the Food Basket of the Nation, but for many years, farmers have been displaced from their ancestral lands. The ugly scenario has resulted in food crises and is set to take a more dangerous dimension if not stopped now.
“We expect the federal government to fulfill its promise to assist Benue state government in resettling the displaced people back to their homes. The longer the IDPs stay in the camps, the worse their plight would get.
“We also want to urge our sons and daughters who are still sitting on the fence to wake up and speak against the evil being perpetrated in our land. This matter is not only about Governor Samuel Ortom.
“Benue sons home and abroad who think that they are not affected by the crisis must know that we are all casualties whether we are at home or not. They should raise their voices to condemn the injustice being visited on us.
“This is no time for politicking. They should send relief materials to those in IDP camps and also solicit the support of international donor organisations to come to the aid of our people.
“Finally, we wish to call on Nigerians who love justice, peace and equity to rise and condemn what is happening to the innocent people of Benue state. The killer herdsmen are still here with us. They have resorted to guerrilla warfare. They now attack our people in their sleep and leave their familiar trademark of death. Enough is enough.”
An overwhelmed Ortom speaks
Governor Samuel Ortom who addressed journalists on Democracy Day said the challenge occasioned by herdsmen attack on Benue, which has resulted in many people being displaced is overwhelming.
“The challenge is overwhelming. However, we have been managing. And we would continue to call on spirited individuals and other bodies to come to the help of IDPs.
“We are really in a humanitarian crisis. The promise the federal government made has not been redeemed.
“The help is more in other parts of the country than Benue. We call on our people here, no matter what you have even if little, to support these IDPs”, he stated.
Also, the state governorship aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Paul Angya, lamented the rising insecurity in the state which he said is resulting to a sharp drop in food production in the state by over 50 percent.
He said the attacks on farming communities in the state would certainly affect not only the food security of the state but the whole country since majority of the food produced for Nigeria is from Benue.
Angya noted that the attack on Benue people by herdsmen particularly was unwarranted as the state has a law which prevents open grazing.
