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Tag: Benue

  • Islamic State terrorists behind killings in Benue, others – DSS

    Security agencies, including the Department of State Service (DSS), have identified an Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) network operating within some areas in North Central and South South geopolitical zones as mastermind of recent killings in the country.

    According to them, the ISWA terror group use foreign terrorists and recruit young men to fight and kill innocent Nigerians ostensibly to exacerbate tensions along the county’s ethnic, religious and regional fault lines.

    This is reportedly contained in a report submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari by the security agencies.

    Reliable sources in the presidency said that this discovery was made following the arrest of several suspected attackers made up of Fulani herdsmen, government-sponsored militias, militants and other miscreants in Benue Sate.

    They said among those in custody were many who spoke none of the languages native to Nigeria but the French language.

    This is the first time security officials have confirmed that members of the Islamic State in West Africa are operating as a unit in Nigeria and the level of their penetration in the country.

    One of the sources revealed that a good number of the Islamic State terrorists have been arrested not only in the Benue valley but significantly in several towns in Edo State, specifically in Akoko-Edo, Okpella and Benin as well as in Okene, Kogi State.

    The presidency source who did not want his name in print said, “It is understood that the sect which has members in different parts of the country concentrates on recruiting young men to fight for the Islamic State in West Africa by unleashing the cold-blooded murder of innocent citizens.

    “There was intelligence that they had planned several attacks here, before and during Christmas and the New Year. Their bombing targets included fuel depots, foreign missions and police and military establishments. Their network is very wide.

    “But so much was achieved by the DSS which had made a significant number of arrests in the last two months that helped to preempt those attacks. This helped to save Nigeria from the spate of major terrorist attacks witnessed elsewhere that were syndicated by ISIS worldwide.”

    The reports said to have been submitted to the president also revealed that security officials now fear an influx of other ISIS members into many parts of the country. “We are learning more and more about this complex and sophisticated network.

    This is the main reason why the secret service is not parading those suspects so far arrested. It has become clear to us by now that the challenge facing this country is a serious one,” the source added.

    When contacted, presidential spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, confirmed that President Buhari had been receiving what he described as “report upon report on the situation in Benue and other states”. He added that though the DSS has recorded a lot of success lately, he had “not been briefed on any of those reports”.

  • Presidency raises alarm over influx of foreign terrorists into Benue, other states

    Security service organizations including the Department of State Service (DSS) have identified an Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) network operating within some North Central and South-South sections of the country.

    This information is contained in a security report submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari recently by the affected security service outfits.

    The report indicated that ISWA network was using foreign terrorists and recruiting young men to fight and kill innocent persons ostensibly to exacerbate tensions along the county’s ethnic, religious and regional fault lines.

    According to a Presidency source, this discovery was made following the arrest of several suspected attackers made up Fulani herdsmen, government-sponsored militias, militants and other miscreants in Benue Sate.

    The source revealed that among those in custody were many who spoke none of the languages native to Nigeria but the French language.

    “This is the first time that security officials have confirmed that the Islamic State in West Africa members are operating as a unit in Nigeria and the level of their penetration of the country,’’ the source added.

    The source further revealed that a “good number”of the Islamic State terrorists had been arrested not only in the Benue valley but significantly in several towns in Edo, specifically in Akoko-Edo, Okpella and Benin as well as in Okene, in Kogi.

    “It is understood that the cell, which has members in different parts of the country concentrates on recruiting young men to fight for the Islamic State in West Africa by unleashing the cold-blooded murder of innocent citizens.

    “There was intelligence that they had planned several attacks here, before and during Christmas and the New Year. Their bombing targets included fuel depots, foreign missions and police and military establishments.

    “Their network is very wide. But so much was achieved by the DSS which had made a significant number of arrests in the last two months that helped to preempt those attacks.

    “This helped to save Nigeria from the spate of major terrorist attacks witnessed elsewhere that were syndicated by ISIS worldwide,’’ the source maintained.

    The reports submitted to the presidency had also revealed that security officials now fear an influx of other ISIS members into many parts of the country.

    “We are learning more and more about this complex and sophisticated network.

    “This is the main reason why the secret service is not parading those suspects so far arrested. It has become clear to us by now, that the challenge facing this country is a serious one.”

    When contacted, Presidency Spokesman, Garba Shehu confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari had been receiving what he described as “report upon report on the situation in Benue and other states”.

    According to him, the DSS has recorded a lot of success lately but said he had not been briefed on any of those reports.

     

  • ‎Taraba, Benue governors dragged to ICC over killings

    ‎Taraba, Benue governors dragged to ICC over killings

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State and his counterpart in Taraba, Achitect Darius Ishaku has been dragged to the International Criminal Court, ICC, over the spate of killings in the two states.
    A civil society organisation, Initiative for Civil Rights Advancement in Nigeria stated this in a petition dated January 16th, 2018 and signed by Engr. Yakubu Bulama, Information Officer of ICRAN and addressed to the Office of Madame Fatou Bensouda.
    The Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC), accused the two governors of poor handling of the Fulani Herdsmen and farmers crises in the states.
    According to the petition, it does appear that so much stories are being cooked up and sold to security agencies and the media in Nigeria as to what must have prompted the gruesome killings.
    “However, our investigations have revealed that the whole crisis started on 27th December, 2017 when Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State was traveling to attend the birthday of his political godfather named Senator George Akume at Gboko. It happened that somewhere along Makurdi-Gboko Road, the convoy of Governor Ortom ran into herds of cattle migrating to Taraba through the border axis of Logo Local Government Area. Out of anger that the cattle obstructed Governor Ortom’s convoy, his overzealous armed body guards and aides arrested some of the Fulani herdsmen, tortured them thoroughly before taking them into forceful detention.
    “On the next day being 28th December, 2017 another group of Fulani herdsmen were passing through Agasha-Gbajimba Road when they were again attacked by armed militia branded as Livestock Guards who stationed at Governor Ortom’s farm. This time, 3 (Three) of the herdsmen were killed and their cattle rustled away to unknown location.
    “Suffices to state that our Policy Evaluators who attended a security meeting in Makurdi, Benue State in the latter part of year 2017 can confirm that Governor Ortom warned the Nigeria Police Force to step aside and be ready to act as mere observers during the 2019 General Elections as the Livestock Guards together with the Civilian Joint Task Force which he set up have been mandated to violently intimidate the opposition party out of the way so he can rig election for purposes of achieving his second term bid on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC)”, he said in the petition..
    He said the group is disenchanted that Governor Ortom who is the Chief Security Officer of Benue State saddled with the duty of protecting his people has abdicated his duty and failed in all ramifications to deliver the dividends of governance. He said the Governor Ortom has become so obsessed with the pursuit of his second term ambition that he now cares less about the security and welfare of Benue people, which Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) clearly made “the primary purpose of government”.
    “It is safe to posit that the coordinated attacks launched by Fulani herdsmen on Benue indigenes this time around is centered on the selfish actions and inactions of Governor Ortom. The attacks have nothing to do with implementation of the Benue Anti-Open Grazing Law, 2017. Granted, Section 24 of the extant law established the Livestock Special Task Force and Section 26 thereof provides that the Task Force comprises representatives of the Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services as well as Nigerian Legion of Ex-Servicemen. The records show that Governor Ortom has failed to tell the public how many members of the Livestock Special Task Force were killed during the recent crisis and whether those killed include any representatives of the aforementioned security outfits. We are yet to find a place in the grundnorm being the 1999 Constitution of the Federation Republic of Nigeria wherein armed militias are permitted to be used by a State Governor under the guise of enforcing a State Law”.
    He asked the court for the following prayers:
    “That the ICC Prosecutor opens an investigation of the Accused on her own accord under Article 15 (1) of the Rome Statute;
    “That the ICC Prosecutor also formally “submit to the Pre-Trial Chamber of the ICC a request for authorization of an investigation” of the Accused under Article 15 (3) of the Rome Statute;
    “That the ICC Prosecutor obtain International Arrest Warrants for the Accused from the ICC in accordance with Articles 58 (1) (a), 58 (1) (b) (i), 58 (1) (b) (ii) and 58 (1) (b) (iii) and proceed to arrest the Accused so they can face their trial.
    “That the ICC Prosecutor compels the Accused upon conviction to pay compensation to the victims of genocide at Guma and Logo Local Government Areas of Benue State as well as Mambilla Plateau in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State in the sum of $1,000,000,000 (One Billion US Dollars) each as punitive damages.
    “That the ICC Prosecutor compels the Federal Government of Nigeria to set up a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the allegations contained herein beyond the ongoing media charade calculated to deceive the general public.
    “That Governor Samuel Ortom and his Taraba State counterpart, Darius Dickson Ishaku be accordingly investigated and tried for abdication of duty and instigation of war crimes against humanity to serve as deterrence to other State Governors who are planning to arm local militias for purposes of the forthcoming 2019 General Elections or outright ethnic cleansing”.

  • We will defend ourselves, Benue indigenes tell Buhari

    Benue State indigenes have said they will no longer fold their hands and watch their kinsmen being massacred every other day by suspected Fulani herdsmen, stressing that they would rise to defend themselves should the Federal Government continue to dilly-dally on their security.

    They also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare herdsmen “a terrorist organization” and arrest leaders of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) for consistently threatening more bloodshed in Benue State.

    The people, under the auspices of Benue Indigenes in Southeast, comprising the Tiv, Idoma and Igede natives, dropped the hint in Enugu, yesterday, during a protest rally against the continuous killings in Benue by herdsmen.

    The rally, which was originally billed for the Michael Okpara Square, was disrupted when armed policemen occupied the venue, forcing the organizers to relocate to another venue in the city.

    The protesters carried placards bearing various inscriptions like; “we are not happy! Stop the killing in all parts of Nigeria. Please act now and save Benue. Your cows are not more important than human lives, cattle cannot be given more attention than human lives” among others.

    They declared their total support for the anti-grazing law promulgated by the Benue State government.In a written statement signed by President of Tiv community, Dr. David Wayas, President, Idoma Community Andrew Tyonongo and David Achi, the Benue natives said: “We call on Governor Samuel Ortom to ensure total compliance and we reject the establishment of cattle colonies in our state. We call on President Buhari to declare the herdsmen terrorists.

    “We also call on Mr. President to order immediate arrest and prosecution of Bosso and other leaders of Miyetti Allah who have consistently threatened more bloodshed in Benue State, as well as, order the enforcement of the anti-grazing law.”

    Addressing newsmen shortly after the rally, Wayas said it was intended to first of all, register their condolences and observe a brief moment of solitude for their brothers and sisters who lost their lives in the invasion.

    He said: “But most importantly, we are here to communicate our position before the world, against the continuous killings and merciless massacre of innocent, harmless, defenceless and very patriotic people of our dear Benue State, who have become the booty in the hand of nomadic terrorist herdsman.

    “It is disheartening to note indeed, that the lives of those who lost their lives by herdsmen attacks on our land of course are yet to be quantified. But for the sake of those of us still alive, we are here to say ‘enough is enough’.

    “We can no longer keep quiet, we can no longer be silent, and we will continue to speak whether heard or not until those behind this evil carnage is brought to justice. We fought for the unification of this country. Our ancestral fathers fought to unite Nigeria. Benue State fought to bring about what is today Nigeria. But, today, those who call us their brothers are slaughtering us. Today, we are denied our rights of existence.

    “Today, we have become refuges in our own country. And yet we have a government, which promise to protect our lives and our property. How long shall we allow this evil to continue to prosper for saying nothing? How much longer? We may not have the weapon! We have a common voice as a people. We have a voice to say ‘enough is enough’. And we have a choice to choose where to belong, as long as these decisions will continue to guarantee our rights to live in peace and not in pieces. We have a choice”.

  • Fatai Owoseni appointed new police commissioner for Benue State

    The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotum Idris, has appointed the former Lagos state commissioner of police, Fatai Owoseni, as the new commissioner of police, Benue state command.

    Fatai Owoseni will replace Bashir Makama as the new CP in the state.

    This is coming at a time the police is at the center of herdsmen attacks in the state in order to restore security.

    Recall that Buhari had ordered the Inspector General of Police to immediately relocate to Benue State to restore law and order, following killings perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen.

  • Herdsmen crisis: Have Benue, Taraba now become ‘no-go areas’ for Buhari? – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has criticized the All Progressives Congress governors and some serving federal ministers following their silence on the failure of President Muhammadu Buhari to visit Benue State over the killings of scores of citizens in the state by herdsmen.

    The party said it was a tragic failure of character and an act of hypocrisy that the same APC governors, who in 2013 “unleashed insults on the PDP and its Federal Government for delaying in visiting the fronts of Borno at the heat of insurgency attacks, had lost their voices now that Buhari had refused to visit Benue, Taraba or Kadnuna states” to condole with the people.

    The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, asked Nigerians to note that neither the APC governors nor any federal delegation had visited Benue, Taraba or Kaduna state since the killings and the traumatising mass burial of victims.

    He said, “Today, Nigerians are heartbroken to realise that those they thought were patriots and messiahs never had any iota of goodwill towards them.

    “The questions are: Why have the APC governors and ministers suddenly lost their voices now that President Buhari has refused to visit Benue or show any form of empathy to the plight of Nigerians? Have Benue and Taraba now become ‘no-go areas’ for President Buhari? Indeed, this indifference calls for deeper reflection by Nigerians.”

  • Benue massacre: Seek justice and reparation for victims of attacks by herdsmen, SERAP tells Buhari

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that “any efforts by his government to prevent and combat attacks by herdsmen across the country is grounded in the rights of victims of unlawful killings and their families. It’s important to ensure that any policy to tackle the problem is not used as a ploy to undercut the possibilities of meaningful justice and reparation for victims and their families.”

    The National Assembly yesterday condemned the killings in Benue and other parts of the country, and called on the Federal Government to take decisive action against those behind the killings.

    In a statement today signed by SERAP deputy director Timothy Adewale the organization said, “So far attempts by the government to address the persistent attacks by herdsmen in Benue, Taraba, Adamawa states and other parts of the country has overlooked the plight of the victims and their families. But it has to be made clear that victims of attacks apparently by herdsmen are entitled to effective remedies regardless of whether they bring their claims against the government in an individual or collective capacity.”

    The organization said, “It is an imperative demand of justice that the responsibility of the perpetrators of the unlawful killings and destruction of property be clearly established and the rights of the victims and their families sustained to the fullest possible extent. Establishing a trust fund for victims of attacks by herdsmen will be an important first step towards justice for victims and their families.”

    According to the organization, “Victims’ right to an effective remedy and reparation is a legally enforceable human right and not a matter of charity. It is no coincidence that the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) and human rights instruments such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party refer to victims’ right to effective remedies, including access to justice, reparation and guarantee of non-repetition.”

    “As the President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, SERAP believes that Buhari is in a powerful position to end the unlawful killings and destruction of property apparently by herdsmen across the country if he really wants to do so. Buhari needs to speak directly to Nigerians and particularly to the countless victims and their families.”

    “Continuing refusal of Buhari to speak directly to Nigerians on the matter and visit the states such as Benue, Taraba and Adamawa, that have been most affected by these attacks by herdsmen is feeding into the propaganda that this government may be shielding suspected perpetrators from justice and, more importantly, undermines the rule of law and facilitates continuing attacks.”

    “Under international law, a victim is defined as anyone who suffers individual or collective harm (or pain) such as physical or mental injury, emotional suffering, economic loss, or generally any impairment of human rights as a result of acts or omissions that constitute gross violations of human rights, or serious violations of humanitarian law norms.”

    “A victim does not necessarily have to be the person that has suffered the harm, as a dependent or a member of the immediate family or household of the person that has directly suffered harm can indirectly be characterised as a victim.”

    “Indeed, the Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power provides some guarantees for victims (including family members of direct victims), such as those that suffer ‘substantial impairment of their fundamental rights’ through acts or omissions of governments.”

  • BREAKING: Six dead as herdsmen strike again in Benue

    There was pandemonium in Benue State on Wednesday as some suspected Fulani herdsmen struck again in another set of renewed attacks on communities in Logo, Guma and Okpokwu Local Government Areas of state killing six people.

    Governor Samuel Ortom confirmed the attacks on Wednesday at the Government House in Makurdi, the state capital.

    He made the disclosure when he received a former military administrator of the state, Brigadier General Dominic Oneya (rtd), who led a delegation on a condolence visit to the governor.

    Governor Ortom said two women were reported killed in Guma LGA and two persons in Logo on Tuesday, stressing that pockets of killings were still going on.

    The state was thrown into another round of mourning on Wednesday as he confirmed another set of killings by suspected herdsmen in Odidi and Ojokpailo in Okpokwu LGA.

    The Governor reiterated his call on security agencies to arrest the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore whom he alleged were still issuing threats of resisting implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law in the state.

    He thanked General Oneya for identifying with people of the state in their trying moment, stressing that it was a demonstration of a true friend.

    Ortom, however, noted that the crises between herdsmen and farmers had lingered for years without anyone coming up with a bold step to address the issues.

    He further stressed that implementing the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law was targeted at finding a permanent solution to the challenge in the state.

     

    More details shortly…

  • Benue massacre: Buhari’s silence encouraging herdsmen to wreak more havoc – Reps

    Members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday said President Muhammadu Buhari’s indifference to the killings by Fulani herdsmen across the country is a booster to their (herdsmen) morale to wreak more havoc.

    The lawmakers said this when they reconvened in Abuja on Tuesday after their Christmas and New Year break.

    They debated extensively on a motion titled ‘Need for the Federal Government to Declare a State of Emergency on Security over Spate of Deadly Attacks in the Country by Suspected Herdsmen.’

    The motion was jointly moved by Mr. Babatunde Kolawole and Mr. Dickson Tarkighir.

    A large number of the lawmakers also supported the position of the Benue State Government that ranching of cattle would go a long way in reducing the conflicts between farmers and herders.

    A member, Mr. Hassan Saleh, told the session, which was presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, that the Monday meeting with Buhari in Abuja did not give any hope that a solution would soon be found.”

    Saleh, a member of the All Progressives Congress from Benue State, described the government as having “failed woefully” in securing the lives and property of Nigerians.

    He noted that a government, whose body language suggested that cattle had more value than the lives of its citizens, had failed the people.

    Saleh told the plenary about the Monday meeting between the people of Benue State and Buhari over the attacks by herdsmen and the feeble reactions by security agencies.

    He said the response the delegation got from the President did not indicate that any serious steps were being taken to contain the situation.

    Saleh said, “What is happening is a failure of government right from Mr. President to all of us seated here.

    “We met with Mr. President yesterday (Monday) and our takeaway was nothing. All he said was ‘go and investigate,’ (to security agencies).

    “So, what is happening is that the political will to tackle this problem is not there.”

    Another APC member, Mr. Orker Jev, observed that the lack of political will could be seen in the “fact that this government is not giving the herdsmen the same attention it has given to Boko Haram.”

    Jev dismissed the excuse that the killers were foreigners as another sign of weakness by the government.

    He said, “The political will is not there right from the Presidency. The government is not giving the herdsmen the same attention it has accorded Boko Haram insurgents.

    “If the claim is that the killers are foreigners, is that not a failure of governance?

    “Will you allow foreigners to come into your country, kill your citizens and you keep quiet because you have cultural affinity with the killers?”

    Another APC member, Mr. John Dyegh, told the House that there was a “misrepresentation” of the anti-grazing law passed by the Benue State House of Assembly by some interests, who were opposed to it.

    He informed the House that an impression was created that the state government’s intention was to chase the Fulani out of Benue, adding that “this is far from the truth.”

    Dyegh said, “All the government did was to say that herdsmen could buy land, settle in the state and ranch their cattle.

    “Nobody said Fulani people should leave Benue. This is where the misrepresentation comes in.”

    More speakers, including Mr. Rotimi Agunsoye, Mr. Oghene Emma-Igoh, Mr. Sergious Ose-Ogun, Mr. Teseer Mark-Gbillah and Ms. Funke Adedoyin, condemned the killings by the herdsmen.

    However, two members noted that both the government and Nigerians had not treated the herdsmen fairly over the years.

    One of them, Mr. Sadiq Ibrahim, argued that while government, over time, provided comfort for other Nigerians, it left the herdsmen to their fate.

    He stated that so long as state governors and Nigerians were unwilling to make sacrifices to protect the herdsmen by donating land to them, the violence would continue to occur.

    Ibrahim opposed the idea of ranching, saying that the herdsmen did not have the technical know-how.

    “The herdsman needs our pity. Nature has been harsh to him and government has not taken adequate care of him.

    “We all have to make sacrifices in one way or another in order to address this problem holistically,” he added.

    On her part, Mrs. Aisha Dukku, confirmed that a Fulani herder preferred to save a cow to saving his own life.

    Dukku, who is an APC member from Gombe State, said, “Where is the N100bn that former President Goodluck Jonathan gave to governors to establish grazing reserves for cattle? Why is nobody calling the governors to account?”

    Dogara, who had earlier welcomed his colleagues from the break, noted that the killings could be contained if security agencies were proactive.

    He called on Buhari to constantly wield the big stick by sacking non-performing heads of security agencies.

    “The accentuation of violent crimes is a chronic symptom of defects in our security architecture, which we must fix.

    “I therefore call on Mr. President to apply maximum sanction on public officers who are derelict in the performance of their duties,” the Speaker added.

    Members later passed the motion in a majority voice vote and set up an ad hoc committee to meet with service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, and the Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.), for a r dialogue on the killings by herdsmen.

  • Benue massacre: Buhari violated no law, acting within ambit of Nigerian constitution – Presidency replies CAN

    The Presidency on Tuesday insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari violated no law in handling the recent farmers/herdsmen clashes in Benue and other parts of the country which had led to loss of several lives and properties.

    Recall that the General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Musa Asake, that President Muhammadu Buhari was complacent and biased in handling the clashes that has now degenerated to a national crisis.

    Mr. Asake had addressed journalists on Tuesday in reaction to attacks that led to the death of several persons in Benue State since the beginning of the year.

    The Christian leader reiterated CAN’s earlier accusation that the Buhari administration was slowly accomplishing a purportedly hidden agenda to Islamise Nigeria through the recent killings.

    “Under President Buhari, the murderous Fulani herdsmen enjoyed unprecedented protection and favouritism to the extent that the herdsmen treat Nigeria as a conquered territory. Rather than arrest and prosecute the Fulani herdsmen, security forces usually manned by Muslims from the North offer them protection as they unleash terror with impunity on the Nigerian people.

    “The bottom line is that President Buhari failed woefully to protect Nigerians. He wilfully permitted the Fulani herdsmen to operate killing people, destroying communities wholesale, destroying farmlands and turning the entire Middle Belt into “killing fields”, all the while enjoying government protection from counter attack, arrest or prosecution,” Mr. Asake said.

    However, in a swift response to the allegations, presidential spokesman Garba Shehu said it was unfortunate that Mr. Asake “could not cite any valid cases of constitutional violations” by Mr. Buhari.

    Mr. Shehu said Mr. Buhari’s government “poses no threat to the country’s democracy and Constitution.”

    “There are no cases of any violation of our sacred constitution and there will be none under this President.

    “The respected religious leader should stick to his religious duties and leave politics for politicians,” the presidential spokesperson said.