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Tag: Herdsmen

  • We must stop Fulani herders from roaming, grazing on crops all over Nigeria – Presidency

    We must stop Fulani herders from roaming, grazing on crops all over Nigeria – Presidency

    The presidency on Tuesday stressed that an immediate solution should be put in place to curb herdsmen from roaming all over Nigeria with their cows and grazing on crops therein.

    The remark was made by the Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu during an interview session on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme.

    The presidential spokesman was responding to the allegation that President Muhammadu Buhari is grabbing lands to dole out to herdsmen.

    The allegation was made by Katch Ononuju, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who also featured on the programme.

    Ononuju had said the government does not care about the lives of its citizens, hence, the continued kidnappings, killings and clashes between farmers and herders.

    But Shehu blamed the actions of the herdsmen on the drying of grazing lands in the north.

    “This country has a grazing problem because the herders are mostly Fulanis. The challenge is from these places they had practiced, you know, the encroachment by desert leading to drying up of a lot of grazing lands in the northern-most parts of the country, “Shehu said.

    “This has put pressure on the herders who have been looking to the south-west green grass so that their cattle will eat and also have water to drink. It’s a global climate situation which is unfortunate considering what has happened along the lake chad basin.

    “I’m glad that governors of the north are coming together to say let us resolve this problem of grazing because we have to stop these herders from roaming and eating up our crops all over the country.

    “They drive their cattle into farmlands and eat up the crops. The farmers fight back and the killings follow. The country cannot continue in this way.

    “The president has no plan to fish for a land other than the one he has inherited from his father. Some of them have even be donated for community purposes but I think we need to get our facts right when we speak on some of these issues.”

    Still speaking on insecurity in the north-east, particularly in Borno, Shehu said progress has been made, “a lot of it” and that Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba and Adamawa have all “moved on” from insecurity issues.

    “And we are hoping and praying for our brothers in Borno state that they too, with the support of the military and the communities, they will rid themselves of Boko Haram,” he said.

    “The president has said times without number that his expectations are still to be met, that means we are not exactly where we wish to be. However, a fair judgement that can be made about ongoing efforts of the administration is tojudge it by the responses it makes when challenges of security comes up.

    “In all countries of the world, there is always one form of security challenge, the thing, then, to do is how do you respond? The present administration has responded within the capacity, competence using available resources and manpower and all the limitations that come with that. So, can we get better? We hope we will continue to improve.”

  • How MACBAN, herdsmen and FG devastated poultry sector – Dele Sobowale

    How MACBAN, herdsmen and FG devastated poultry sector – Dele Sobowale

    By Dele Sobowale

    “We are depressed, very depressed. And anyone of us, of our age, who was not depressed, he was not well-born. Because we have nothing to leave behind for our children, and violence will not sustain us…”

    Chief Audu Ogbeh, Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF.

    Ogbeh, former Minister of Communications under President Shagari and of Agriculture under Buhari from 2015 to 2019, was wrong. His generation of Northerners actually left several awful things behind for their children. One of them is a devastated poultry industry and its repercussions. Ogbeh actually contributed to that problem during his years as Buhari’s Minister. Indeed, if the President is asked to name those who helped to bring his administration to the point where the hitherto supportive ACF, are now “depressed, very depressed”, Audu Ogbeh should be top on the list of culprits. Here is why.

    When in 2016, Fulani herdsmen invaded Agatu, Benue State and slaughtered over hundred people and rendered thousands homeless, Ogbeh, though Minister representing Benue State, did not visit the place; neither did the Federal Government, he served, send relief materials. The raid on Agatu was followed by the massacre of people in more Benue communities until Governor Ortom rose in defence of his people. When the FG finally reacted, it was to blame the victimised people of Benue for not accommodating strangers. It was a bloody lie and Ogbeh knew the truth. But, hanging on to his portfolio as Minister was more important than standing up for the truth and his people.

    Even when the Mayetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MACBAN, and various officials of the FG proclaimed untruths about the mass murders in Benue and threatened the people, Ogbeh uttered not a word. Instead he joined others in promoting RAGU — the forceful establishment of grazing lands in all the states of Nigeria – in total defiance of the Land Use Decree 1978; which vested all state lands in the Governors of each state. Herdsmen, urged on by MACBAN went on unchecked rampage from state to state destroying farms.

    Unfortunately for the MACBAN, FG and Ogbeh, they were all too myopic to realise that maize and soybeans are two of Nigeria’s most important crops. Rice is the third. But, maize and soybeans, apart from constituting direct food items are absolutely indispensable as inputs for poultry feed. It never occurred to them that cattle cannot distinguish between maize farms and others. In fact, they have preferences for maize and beans farms. I learnt this fact by accident in 2018.

    Travelling from Minna to Bida and on my way to Lagos, I opted to go by a longer route: Minna-Zungeru- Wushishi-Badeggi-Bida. I wanted to visit an old friend in a community in Wushishi Local Government. There a compelling story unfolded. The people in these areas are not Fulani or Hausa. Apparently, since 2016, thousands of small and medium scale farmers have been experiencing repeated invasion of their rice, beans and maize farms by Fulani herdsmen. Hitherto, the shepherds were not armed. But, starting middle 2016, they were armed with guns. And, unlike time immemorial, when cattle incursion into farms was settled amicably, herdsmen became intransigent. Reports to the police and security people in the area fell on deaf ears.

    By 2018, Fulani herdsmen, previously living in relative obscurity among other Nigerian tribes, had emerged as one of the five most deadly terrorist groups worldwide. Wherever terrorists enter, it is their cardinal intention to deprive all others of their rights to lives, means of livelihood, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They bring destruction everywhere including Niger State.

    More maize, rice and beans farms were destroyed as herdsmen became more emboldened. Around the early part of 2017, the first reports of kidnapping of farmers and family – after invading and destroying the farm – started gradually circulating. By 2018, what most communities in that axis of Niger State had regarded as a rumour had become a fact. The Fear of herdsmen, previously docile, now aggressive and imperialistic was the beginning of wisdom. It was the beginning of a sustained attack against maize, rice and beans farmers across Niger State – which left several thousand farms fallow this year. The widespread attitude is: why bother to plant if cattle will destroy some and bandits will seize the rest? Niger State, it might be added, is capable of producing more maize, rice and beans than Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti combined.

    From information available to me, hundreds of thousands of women and girls – who constitute the backbone of Nigerian agriculture – don’t go to farm anymore. Meanwhile, the young men have taken two routes out of the farm. Some have joined the rural-urban drift and are so far away from farmland that they can be presumed to be lost forever to farming. The second batch has gone to swell the ranks of criminals – kidnappers, bandits and cattle rustlers. The last group, rustlers that is, are out for revenge on herdsmen who forced them off the farm. Being idle, they easily found employment with the Devil – who loves idle hands. The rest of the country will pay dearly for all these.

    One of Ogbeh’s contributions to our present predicament is discussed below.

    BORDER CLOSURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

    “You burn the house to roast the pig. It was always the only way mankind roasted pigs.” Saul Bellow.

    Many Nigerians cannot wait for May 29, 2019 to come. It will relieve them of one public servant who has become more of a public danger than all the others put together. The man is Chief Audu Ogbeh who I had tipped as one of the most likely to succeed among Buhari’s Ministers. Don’t blame me totally.

    First, readers would recollect the proposal to establish several “Cattle Colonies” in all the states of Nigeria. The uproar that greeted that idea lasted several months until the President was forced to disclaim it.”

    Then he announced that: “Our other problem is smuggling. As we speak, a neighbour of ours is importing rice than China is importing. They do not eat parboiled rice; they eat white rice and they are using their port to try and damage our economy.” Chief Audu Ogbeh.

    Ogbeh’s recommendation is playing itself out now. The statement credited to him was followed by an appeal to the FG to close Nigerian borders on account of imported and smuggled rice. The FG closed the border. Let us quickly point out that foreign rice is still entering Nigeria. More importantly, I pointed out then that rice was not the only commodity crossing the border; it would stop export of Nigerian goods to ECOWAS as well. But, Ogbeh is a fanatic. Only God knows how much of our current recession can be attributed to loss of exports to ECOWAS. Now the FG is in a dilemma. The adverse consequences of border closure have dawned on them. We are stuck with the results of a stupid policy.

    Finally, he was also in support of the ban placed on maize imports. Two months ago, the FG quietly issued selective import licences to few maize importers – who will make windfall profits while Nigerians pay more for poultry products and poultry farmers fold up.

  • Herdsmen murder four in Benue community, Ortom reacts

    Herdsmen murder four in Benue community, Ortom reacts

    Gov Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Saturday said suspected herdsmen killed four persons at Tse-Angbande, Makurdi, the State Capital, on Friday night.
    Ortom stated this at Tse-Angbande, when he visited the village for an on-the-spot assessment of the impact of the attack that also left seven persons injured.
    He said the attack which took place at about 11 pm on Friday, led to the death of the head and some members of the Akwa family – Mr Emberga Akwa, Innocent Akwa, Terhemba Akwa and an in-law identified as Orban.
    Condemning the act, Ortom recalled that a few weeks ago, herders came without cattle and killed a husband and wife at Tse-Tyohemba, in the same axis of Makurdi, saying that security agents trailed and apprehended three of the assailants.
    He explained that seven persons were also injured and are at the Benue State Teaching Hospital (BUSTH), Makurdi, undergoing treatment.
    The governor said the security operatives are doing their best, adding that his administration will restrategise to mitigate the new pattern of attacks on the people.
    According to him, the attackers who came without cattle, attacked the village, killed and injured some of them and ran away.
    “We will meet with security agencies as a government and see how we can restrategise on how we can handle this guerrella attacks on our people.
    “Let me said that this will not be allowed. These are poor people struggling to earn a living through farming.”
    He assured the people that security has been beefed up to ensure 24 hours vigilance in the area to prevent a reoccurence of the ugly development and urged people to cooperate with security operatives.
    Ortom further commended President Mohammadu Buhari for directing security agencies to deal with all those behind insecurity in the country.
    Speaking to NAN, Patrick Ianna, 35, a villager, explained that it was after the shooting had subsided that they came back to discover dead bodies on the ground.
    He said the Community had no differences with herdsmen, adding that herders are not even staying within their Community.
    Also, Mrs Helen Waku, another villager, told newsmen that she and her husband ran and abandoned their five children during the attack, but were lucky to find them alive and unhurt after the attack.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the governor also visited the injured victims in the hospital and pledged to foot their bills and assist in the burial of the deceased.
  • Sad! Herdsmen attack two, kill popular Oyo farmer Aborode

    Sad! Herdsmen attack two, kill popular Oyo farmer Aborode

    The Chief Executive Officer, Kunfayakun Green Treasures Limited, Fatai Aborode, has been allegedly killed by suspected herdsmen near his farm along Apodun village in Oyo State on Friday.

    It was gathered that Aborode, a politician and prominent farmer, was slain just as he was leaving his farm around 4pm in company with his manager on a motorbike.

    The manager, who was said to have escaped gunshots, reportedly ran for his life.

    A source, who gave his name simply as Seyi, said, “Suspected Fulani herdsmen just killed a former house of representatives candidate on the platform of Accord Party during the 2015 general poll in Igangan, Ibarapa North West Local Council Development Authority, Dr Fatai Aborode.

    “He was attacked by the hoodlums on his farm, he was macheted severally and he died while being rushed to a nearby hospital. He went to farm with one person on bike. On their way coming from the farm, they met the Fulani men. The other person escaped.”

    It was further gathered that no arrest had been made as at the time of filing this report.

     

  • Herdsmen attack Amotekun, destroy farms in Ondo

    Herdsmen attack Amotekun, destroy farms in Ondo

    The state Commander of Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, who disclosed this to journalists in Akure, the state capital, however, said one of the herdsmen was arrested with dangerous weapons while the operatives seized 16 cows.

    He stated, “Some farmers from Osi Community ran to the office complaining that herds had destroyed their farms. We sent our men there to assess the situation. They found out that the herds were actually on the farm and we invited the herdsmen. But unfortunately, on getting there, they attacked our men with knives and other dangerous weapons. But we were able to arrest one of them, named Abdulkadir Mohammed.”

    Adeleye also disclosed that his men arrested two suspected cattle rustlers while a NISSAN Serena marked LAGOS FJ 423 KRD, brought by the suspected rustlers to steal cows belonging to one Alhaji Ilyasu, was impounded.

    He said, “One Alhaji Ilyasu, a Fulani man, came to us that some people went with a Serena Bus to steal their cattle. They came to us, and we sent our men out. We were able to recover the vehicle they wanted to use in stealing the cows; we also recovered the cows.

    “We were able to trace some of the rustlers that ran away to somewhere in Ogun State. We have apprehended one Sudauna Gombe and one Ogunyale Sola, who was the driver of the abandoned Serena. We have handed them over to the Agro Department of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for detailed investigation.

    “We recovered two cows, which we have returned to the Fulani man that owns them, and we brought the vehicle to our office here because the rustlers ran away and abandoned the vehicle. But we were able to arrest those involved and they had confessed that they had been in the trade for some time.”

    The Amotekun boss also disclosed that over 100 suspects had been arrested by men of the security agency in the state since it started its operations.

  • Over 400 herdsmen arrested for violating Benue grazing law – Ortom

    Over 400 herdsmen arrested for violating Benue grazing law – Ortom

    No fewer than 400 herdsmen were reportedly arrested while over 7,629 cows, 210 sheep and other livestock were impounded for violating the Benue State Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law of 2017.

    The arrests were made in the last three years from November 1, 2017, the date of the commencement of enforcement of the law and October 31, 2020.

    Governor Samuel Ortom made the disclosure in Makurdi at the third year anniversary celebration of the grazing law organized by the State Standing Committee on Monitoring and Implementation of Government Litigations and Matters Connected Thereto, with the theme, Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017: A Recipe for Security and Peaceful Co-Existence.

    Represented by his Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Michael Gusa, the Governor explained that “of this number, 261 persons have been convicted, 21 persons have been discharged, 36 cases are still pending, while investigation is ongoing on other cases.

    “The law has also witnessed the arrest, arraignment and conviction of five cattle rustlers. The convicted rustlers were of Fulani extraction, who confessed to the crime in open court.

    Besides, the law has ensured the arrest and arraignment of people irrespective of their ethnic groups or religion. “Most of the convicts were able to pay fines and were released while many who could not were sent to jail ranging from six months to two years.”

    He observed that the law had recorded milestones especially in checking the wanton killings and destruction of property in the state. “The rapidity and number of attacks on communities by suspected herdsmen have reduced in the last two years as compared to 2016-2017,” he said.

    Earlier, the Chairman State Standing Committee on Monitoring and Implementation of Government Litigations and Matters Related Thereto, Mr Emmanuel Agbakor who pointed out that the law which had restored relative peace in the hitherto volatile Benue communities, enjoys the support of the people and not targeted at any particular ethnic group.

  • SARS and herdsmen: Economic terrorists with impunity – Dele Sobowale

    SARS AND HERDSMEN: ECONOMIC TERRORISTS WITH IMPUNITY

    “Allow an intolerable economic situation to persist for too long and suddenly, there are no good solutions left.”

    Arthur Burns, 1904-1987, Chairman US Federal Reserve Bank, 1970-78.

    Arthur Burns was Chairman of the US Central Bank, equivalent fo our own Governor, under US President Richard Nixon, . He was in charge of the nation’s monetary policy during the years when the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, held the world, especially the Western nations, by the balls. Nigeria was a member and beneficiary of the OPEC economic reign of terror on the rest of the world. For a brief period in history, the economies of the then few oil producers were growing at seven per cent per annum and our dear country, Nigeria, ranked 37th in global per capita income. Nigerians, who entered shops in Marble Arch, London, were treated just a little bit with less respect than Arab Sheiks. The sales people knew we had petro-dollars drilling holes in our pockets and handbags and were not there to steal. Today, Nigerians are regarded as suspects for shop-lifting anywhere in the world — notwithstanding the fact that less than three per cent of Nigerians travel outside country.

    Until 2015, herdsmen and farmers clashed so infrequently and seldom involving casualties, media organisations seldom report them. May 29, 2015 changed the narrative. Of all the former Northern Heads of State – Balewa, Gowon, Mohammed, Shagari, Babangida, Abacha, Abubakar and Yar’Adua – Buhari was the first to give herdsmen the impression that they were untouchable. Their most ghastly atrocities in Nimo, Enugu State and Agatu, Benue state occurred within a few weeks apart in which hundreds of innocent people of other ethnic groups were slaughtered without anybody till today being held responsible. Buhari did not even bother to visit the scenes of carnage; and no Federal Government representative sent condolence message. By contrast, the Nigerian President sent a condolence message to France when terrorists killed just six journalists. The message, albeit unintended, was clear. Lives of those killed by terrorists abroad matter; those killed by terrorist herdsmen don’t.

    It was the beginning of impunity and immunity which the President and his economics-illiterate Economic Management Team, EMT, failed to recognise as the earliest manifestations of economic terrorism – which would prove extremely costly later. Well, the later is now.

    As the herdsmen roamed from state to state, vandalising farms, killing people, kidnapping, raping and seizing farmlands, the FG covered them with alibis – “Nigerians should embrace strangers”, “No grazing laws were responsible for the genocide” etc. For accomplices in fact after crimes committed, FG topmost officials and APC party leaders would be hard to beat. One former leader who accused a state Governor of being responsible for murders committed is now begging for out of court settlement. His own immunity gone, he can now see clearly that herdsmen are front line terrorists and have set back Nigeria’s food production for years. A more astute leadership would have discerned from the first incidents that government cannot allow any group to go round destroying agricultural produce without dire consequences. The great tragedy would have occurred eventually – even if no major disasters befell the country. In 2020, the combination of Northern bandits, Boko Haram, kidnappers, herdsmen and flood have hastened the days of doom.

    As millions of hectares of rice farm now are under flood water – together with billions of naira of Anchor Borrowers money, the FG and Fellow Nigerians should brace up for the worst famine ever in Nigeria’s history. Perhaps we would still have experienced food scarcity. But, the contribution of herdsmen is now immeasurable. In my secondary school days in 1961 – which coincided with President Buhari’s own – we learnt that “A stitch in time saves nine.” Hundreds of thousands of farmers driven off their land by terrorist herdsmen cannot now produce the food we badly need to save our lives.

    “The outcome of the greatest events is always determined by a trifle.”

    Napoleon Bonaparte, 1769-1821

    The #ENDSARS protests are now over (or are they not) and suddenly we are counting losses to the nation in trillions of naira. Yet, the entire catastrophe started from one incident that was not one of the worst abuses of human rights perpetrated by the officers selected to wear this elite uniform. Certainly, the officers directly involved in the “trifle” were unaware of the principle of unintended consequences. They have destroyed their illegal ATM machine for ever – and perhaps their lives as well.

    But, it was not only the SARS officers of Ughelli who will for ever regret being at the wrong place on the wrong day and at the wrong time. The Federal Government and the Nigeria Police, as a whole will also wish they did not allow the intolerable situation created by the rank and file of SARS was allowed to continue unchecked. At least there is evidence that as far back as June 2019, the Presidency was aware of the grievous allegations made against some SARS officers. The report covered only crimes committed until 2018. Nothing concrete was done about the report until the protests erupted in October this year. Obviously, the FG failed to recognise the economic consequences of the atrocities of SARS officers – at every level.

    Indeed, it can be asserted that “Show me a SARS Commander or Commissioner of Police who claims ignorance of the banditry of the SARS officers under him; and I will show you a liar.” They were all in it right up to the top. And, being beneficiaries of the situation, they were not eager to put a stop to it. The claim made by some retired SARS officers that bribes had to be paid to be posted to the unit was proof conclusive that the top officers were chief collaborators. Investigators should not expect cooperation from them.

    Individuals in this nation were losing more than we realised on account of SARS criminal operations as two common tricks of their nefarious trade will illustrate. Hanging around banks at night being on the lookout for those withdrawing money was popular. They are pounced upon and forced into SARS vehicles; and after being accused of being suspected armed robbers, are forced to surrender all the money withdrawn. Unfortunately, the more greedy officers take their victims right back to the ATM machines and force them to make more withdrawals before being released. Literally, billions were lost to SARS officers every month until the protest.

    Yahoo Boys provide a steady meal for SARS. Before my hospitalisation for prostate cancer in March this year, I was investigating the influence of Yahoo Boys on the economy of Ibadan. The first article appearing on this page was titled CAN YAHOO BE CONSTRUED AS REPARATION? It was meant to draw attention to how Ibadan had become the Yahoo capital of Nigeria. Running in parallel with the activities of the Yahoo boys were the operations of the SARS officers – who were supposed to be hot in pursuit of the fraudsters. Initial evidence points out that instead of catching the thieves, the officers allowed those who cooperate to go on with their programme – as long as they pay protection money. At least two of the boys confirmed this to me.

    Again, only God knows how many billion innocent people lost to Yahoo boys and SARS nationwide. Were the Commissioners of Police, in Oyo State aware?

    To be continued

  • Any Fulani who comes to Benue as vigilante will go to jail – Ortom

    Any Fulani who comes to Benue as vigilante will go to jail – Ortom

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Thursday warned that he would use the rule of law to ensure that any Fulani herdsman who dared to come to the state for vigilante group was jailed.

    Recall that the Fulani organisation, Miyeitti Allah Kauta Hore, had at a press conference in Abuja recently, vowed to establish vigilante group in all states of federation to combat insecurity.

    In his response to this, Ortom through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, warned the Fulani organisation not to come to his state, adding that their motive was to carry their heinous activities to another level.

    The association, while also reacting to the statement, threatened to drag the governor and Benue State to court unless he retracted the statement

    But Ortom, while speaking with journalists on Thursday, said, “No Fulani group will come to Benue State where I’m the governor; you people know that it is a lie, they cannot come.

    “No room for vigilante group in whatever kind. When I confronted them, they said they would not use vigilante group of Nigeria. That one will not operate here.

    “We have our own vigilante that operates here; we have community policing in which we are recruiting now and livestock guard that take care of herdsmen in active support with security men.

    “So no single vigilante group of Miyeitti Allah will come to Benue State to make any noise here. For us in Benue State, we believe in the rule of law an we will jail them.”

  • Herdsmen in Ebonyi to carry ID cards

    Herdsmen in Ebonyi to carry ID cards

    The Ebonyi Government on Tuesday directed that all the herders in the state should henceforth carry identity cards to help in identifying them in the event of any crime.

    The Deputy Governor, Dr Kelechi Igwe, announced the new directive while briefing newsmen on the outcome of a special security meeting convened by Gov. David Umahi at the Government House, Abakiliki.

    The meeting had the leadership and members of the state chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) in attendance.

    Igwe said that the state government was worried over reported cases of killing of MACBAN members, attack on communities by persons suspected to be MACBAN members, destruction of farm crops and other valuables and incessant cases of rape in the state.

    “The leadership of the various Local Government Areas (LGAs) should immediately liaise with MACBAN leadership to provide identity cards for herders operating in their domains.

    “The various communities in the state are empowered to arrest any under-aged cattle rearers grazing around their communities and hand them over to the police for prosecution, .

    “The chief herder, who is the custodian of such under-aged person, must be prosecuted by the police in accordance with the law,” he said.
    The deputy governor said that herders should be held responsible for attacks on communities in the state and destruction of farm crops by their cattle.

    “Rape cases are not exempted from this as the perpetrators must be produced within seven days for arrest and prosecution.
    “Community leaders, LGA chairmen, Development Centre Coordinators, among others, should take responsibility and produce those who attack herders and their cattle for prosecution within seven days.

    “Herders should henceforth reside in communities where they rear their cattle and any one bearing arms on the roads in areas where infractions occur would also be prosecuted by the police,” Igwe said.

    He said that rearing of cattle within the state government house, centenary city, churches, mosques, schools, among others, had been prohibited and offenders to be prosecuted within seven days,

    He said that herders would, in the magnanimity of the state governor, receive COVID-19 palliatives and benefit from the government programmers on Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.

  • BREAKING: More blood shed in Southern Kaduna as herdsmen kill seven, injure two in Zikpak, Kafanchan [DISTURBING PHOTOS]

    BREAKING: More blood shed in Southern Kaduna as herdsmen kill seven, injure two in Zikpak, Kafanchan [DISTURBING PHOTOS]

    Zikpak village in Kafanchan Jama’a local government area of Kaduna State had it own share of the ongoing herdsmen onslaught in Southern Kaduna on Friday night.

    At about 8 pm last night locals began distress calls after heavily armed herdsmen invaded their communities shooting sporadically making locals to flee for safety.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG gathered that security operatives in the area swung into action and were able to scare the attackers away. But it was discovered Saturday morning that a total of seven persons lost their lives while two persons got injured in the attack.

    There has been a resurgence of herdsmen attack in southern Kaduna Villages in the last four weeks.

    Meanwhile, Governor Nasir El-Rufai has said communal crises persist in the Christian dominated southern part of the state because criminal activities are given ethnic and religious colouration.