No fewer than 18 persons were, again killed, on Wednesday night, during a fresh attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Ariri village of Miango District in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
TheNewsGuru gathered that eight members of a family were murdered in cold blood in the attack and four others inflicted gunshots injuries when the attackers invaded the village while the villagers were deeply asleep.
One of the villagers, who gave his name as Lawrence Ishaku, on Thursday morning, confirmed the incident and said eight people were killed in one house and 10 others in different houses.
His words, “Gunmen attack Ariri village yesterday (Wednesday) in Bassa Local Government Area and killed 18 persons. Eight of the deceased persons were members of one family while 10 are from different houses and four persons were badly injured.
“The death bodies have been given mass burial while there is tension in the community.
“We are neglected by government and security agencies. Nobody is acting to protect us. We are being killed on daily basis by herdsmen and nobody is doing anything to stop the killings.”
He said those injured are currently receiving treatment at Enos Hospital, Miango.
“We are always in a security meeting without result and no arrest has been made. Now Ariri is displaced. This is too bad and evil genocide going on in a democratic era.
“We are pleading and calling on Amnesty international and international committee on Red cross to please come to our aid. We need their help. We are losing hope on the government we hope for.”
He noted that people were being killed in the community by Fulani herdsmen even when the community was under curfew. “I want Government and security agencies to take proactive steps and stop the incessant killings.”
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Matthias Terna Tyopev, confirmed that attack and said the Police Commissioner was going to the village and after then, he would confirm the casualty figure.
Tag: Herdsmen
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Again! Herdsmen attack Plateau village, kill another 18
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Herdsmen planning to kill me, Ortom reveals
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has again raised the alarm that Fulani herdsmen were planning to kidnap, torture and kill him.
The claimed that the herdsmen’s plan is billed to be hatched along Makurdi-Lafia-Abuyja highway.
Ortom disclosed this, on Friday, at an interactive session between the church, traditional institution and other stakeholders towards peace building, organised by the Makurdi Catholic Diocese held at the Pastoral Center in Makurdi, in the state capital.
The governor, who spoke in Tiv language, said he got an intelligence report that the Fulani herdsmen, who are currently occupying part of Guma Local Government Area of the state, were planning to attack him along Makurdi-Abuja-Lafia Road.
The governor said the armed herdsmen, according to the intelligence report, would ensure that all his security aides were killed after which they would kidnap him, torture him before killing him, adding that already, he had reported the matter to the police and other security agencies.
Accrording to Governor Ortom, “Therefore, anytime l sleep and wake up and my spirit doesn’t allow me to travel by road, I would call flight operators but just a few days ago, the Federal Government has issued a secular that no flight should land in Makurdi airport again.”
The governor, who also alleged that some Benue indigenes were conniving with other forces, in Abuja, to kill him, stressed the need for the Federal Government to urgently address the killings across Nigeria by herdsmen militia to pave way for peaceful election in 2019.
He maintained that most of the polling units in the crisis-affected areas have been destroyed and taken over by the Fulani herdsmen as their grazing fields.
“The killings across Nigeria is a deliberate attempt by some people either Boko Haram, armed bandits or herdsmen working for the same purpose to disenfranchise large proportion of Nigerians from voting for the leaders of their choice.
“Amnesty international had come out to disclose that over 19,000 people have lost their lives in Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, Nasarawa and Plateau states to herdsmen attacks and this does not speak well of Nigeria nation especially as we are heading towards 2019.”
While lamenting that Benue indigenes have become destitute and refugees in their fathers’ lands,Governor Ortom further disclosed that pockets of killings were still going on in Makurdi, Guma, Logo and Katsina Ala local government areas of the state.
He explained further that most of the farmlands along the borderlines of Taraba and Nasarawa states have been taken over by herdsmen militia who currently occupy the areas to the detriment of the indigenes.
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Fulani leader urges herdsmen to stop using minors as cattle rearers
The Ardo of Chanchaga, Mallam Abdullahi Babayo, has called on herdsmen to stop using minors as cattle rearers to avert clashes with farmers.
Babayo who is also Sarkin Fulani Chanchaga and Shaku Kingdom in Minna made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Wednesday.
He said that once herdsmen stop engaging minors in the service of cattle rearing, it would radically reduce clashes with farmers.
“It is outrageous for an underage boy to lead herd of cattle, in an emergency such a boy will be stranded.
“It endangers not only the boy and the society but even the cattle as cattle rustlers take advantage of the young lad to rustle his cow and cause mayhem.
“A farmer can be very upset seeing an underage boy with a herd of cow.
“There is this sign of relief and confidence farmers enjoy when they see cattlemen leading cattle to graze, they feel their crop is safe,’’ he said.
The Fulani leader also called on farmers to respect designated cattle tracks and avoid farming on them, so as to enhance harmony and peaceful coexistence between them and herders.
“The farmers rely on their crops while the herders also depend on their cattle for livelihood and so they must learn to respect each other’s concern for good neighborliness,’’ he stressed.
Babayo them to resolve all misunderstandings legally instead of resorting to violence.
“All sides should sheath their swords and coexist peacefully for the progress of the state and the country at large,” he added.
NAN
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Breaking: Troops encounter, kill unspecified number of armed herdsmen in Benue
Troops deployed in operation Whirl Stroke along Gbajimba-Akor axis in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State encountered and killed unspecified number of armed herdsmen on Saturday.
TheNewsGuru reports Director of Army Public Relations, Texas Chukwum revealed this Sunday morning saying the troops dislodged the armed herdsmen from their camp following a superior fire power.
According to the Army Public Relations Director, the unspecified number of the armed militia men have been suspected to be killed while others escaped into nearby bushes with gunshot wounds.
The Army said efforts are on to get other fleeing members of the armed militia men by the troops.
“Troops deployed in operation WHIRL STROKE on 4 August 2018 while on clearance operation along Gbajimba – Akor axis in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State encountered armed militia men with large herds of cattle.
“The troops dislodged the armed militia men from their camp following a superior fire power. Unspecified number of the armed militia men have been suspected to be killed by the troops while others escaped into nearby bushes with gun shot wounds,” Texas revealed.
Items recovered include one AK 47 rifle, two AK 47 rifle magazines, 60 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition and five motorcycles.
“Members of the public are advised to report any suspicious movements or activities in their area to the law enforcement agents for prompt action,” Texas said.
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Again, herdsmen strike in Plateau, kill three in Bassa
Three persons were shot dead on Friday night in Zanwra area of Jebbu Miango, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, by the herdsmen, throwing the whole community into fresh apprehension.
The attackers were said to have struck around 8pm, few hours after the visit of the new Commander of Special Military Taskforce code-named Operation Safe Haven, Maj. Gen. Augustine Agundu, to the area.
The OPSH Commander was said to have allegedly accused the Bassa people of stealing cows meant for the Fulani, a development he reportedly said, was partly responsible for the crisis.
The spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, Matthias Tyopev, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, confirmed the killings on Saturday, saying investigations had commenced.
He said, “Unknown armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen attacked Zanwra area of Jebbu Miango, Bassa LGA. Three persons were shot dead in the attack.
“They are; Emmanuel Gado ‘m’ aged 22, Ladi Monday ‘f’ age 30 and Mary Monday ‘f’ aged 5 years. Police detectives led by the Divisional Crime Officer of Bassa Police Division mobilised to the scene of the crime. One expended shell of 7.62mm ammunition was recovered.
The spokesperson for the Miango Youths Development Association, Lawrence Zongo, who spoke with PUNCH on Saturday said that, the government did not appear to be interested in the protection of lives and property.
He said, “People in Jiri village are all in Miango town; they were displaced when their houses were razed on June 20, as they went to the farm. We are yet to have a government that is willing to protect the lives and property of our people. We continue to bury our people daily as Fulani terrorists vow to continue killing us without an end.
“This attack occurred after the new STF commander, Maj. Gen. Augustine Agundu, visited our community. We knew nothing about it because we agreed that no Fulani should graze their cattle any more on our lands.”
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I collapsed after Fulani Herdsmen invaded my farm- Funke Adesiyan
Star Yoruba actress and politician, Funke Adesiyan literally sent Instagram into a meltdown on Wednesday, when she recounted her sad ordeal.
The busty entertainer and entrepreneur recounted how Fulani herdsmen invaded her farm, making her collapse.
She wrote on Instagram:” I remember this day 2016. 3 months prior, I’d just acquired 5 hectares of land at Ijebu Omu for watermelon farming. I was in such a high spirit looking forward to planting the new hybrid seedlings that had just surfaced. I was sleeping at a room apartment I rented in the village so I could be closer to farmland. We went to work. Cleared the land, sunk the borehole, layed the pipes for irrigation so water can be sufficient as watermelon feeds hugely on water and environment. We planted. I left the farm maintenance to the farm manager. I was so tired that I needed to take a holiday so bad but Ranti, my friend who just struck a deal with a Nigerian-Indian company who needed tomato suppliers who can be consistent was waiting. So we headed to Iseyin from Ijebu to see the expansion on our Tomato farm.I stopped in Ibadan on my way from Iseyin to have a drink with my constituents and my favourite Amala Turaya at Yemetu.
“On getting to Lagos, I had only 5days to prepare for my China trip as my partners from Iran and Pakistan wanted us to tour Hunan, a province popular for it’s tea Cultivation. As a “soji girl” that I am, I exploit all money making avenues around me. I needed to shop for my milk and Sardines that I will sell in China to cover my hotel bills. (Ogbon lo gba)? So I spent one whole month in China from Shanghai to Yiwu to Hunan to Sixuan to Pinyin to Hanzhou and finally Guangzhou where I met my beautiful Abuja babe, Mobola. I was tired and drained mentally and physically. I had a week stopover in Dubai which I’d to cancel cos I just wanted to be in the strong embrace of my #ejika the best man any woman can ask for?.As I turned my phone on at Dubai airport, text messages came in from my watermelon farm manager that #fulaniherdsmen had come into my farm and their cows had destroyed our watermelon that was due for Cultivation? oh how i cried! I collapsed right there at Dubai airport. I was rushed to the emergency hospital and was on admission for the 5days I didn’t want to spend! (Man proposes….) This Picture was taken the 2nd day by my Doctor.
“I have never met youths who have zeal to succeed more than Nigerians but the collapse of law and order by the?”.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl8DCfcHqho/?taken-by=funkeadesiyan
Recall Adesiyan recently slammed Linda Ikeji over what she describes as the latter’s obsession with her big boobs. In a caustic post on her Instagram page, the actress accused the blogger of never finding something of substance to write about her other than her boobs and expressed her total disgust for the blogger.
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Armed herdsmen violence six times deadlier than Boko Haram attacks – Report
A new report on Thursday by the International Crisis Group (ICG) revealed that violence involving armed herdsmen was six times more deadly than Boko Haram in the first half of this year.
The report then recommended urgent steps that the Nigerian government must take to stem further attacks.
The ICG estimated 1,300 deaths linked to the farmer-herder violence within the first half of this year, adding that the dimensions of the attack have aggravated in recent months.
“What were once spontaneous attacks have become premeditated scorched-earth campaigns in which marauders often take villages by surprise at night,” the non-profit think-tank said. “Now claiming about six times more civilian lives than the Boko Haram insurgency, the conflict poses a grave threat to the country’s stability and unity, and it could affect the 2019 general elections.”
The report recommended that President Muhammadu Buhari’s approach to solving the crisis is acceptable but largely insufficient.
The government’s “immediate priorities should be to deploy more security units to vulnerable areas; prosecute perpetrators of violence; disarm ethnic militias and local vigilantes; and begin executing long-term plans for comprehensive livestock sector reform,” it said.
The report also found that the anti-open grazing statutes recently enacted by state governments in Benue and Taraba States also contributed to the escalation in latest attacks.
“The Benue State government should freeze enforcement of its law banning open grazing, review that law’s provisions and encourage a phased transition to ranching,” the ICG said.
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Ijaw group warns against subversion of democracy
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, has cautioned against any attempt to subvert democratic governance in Nigeria.
The IYC called on the political leadership and other key players in the nation’s political space to give the requisite attention to the sustenance of democracy and avoid acts that could truncate it in the country.
The IYC believes that democracy under President Buhari is nose-diving and the nation’s number one man seems not to care. In a statement on Tuesday signed by the President Barr Peretubo Oweilami and Secretary-General Mr. Alfred Kemepado, it said the siege on the Abuja homes of the leadership of the Senate has further confirmed that the nation’s democracy is truly under threat.
“The exploitation of state security apparatus to harass and intimidate perceived political opponents is not a healthy development. It is a display of political desperation which should not have a place in our democracy.
The recent developments at the National Assembly and the harassment of perceived political opponents are without doubt threats to democratic governance in the country.
The National Assembly is an autonomous organ and shouldn’t be subjected to such a degrading harassment.
“The blockade of the convoy of the Senate President and the failed attempt to arrest him with a view to prevent the Senate from sitting is unhealthy.
The group added further that for democracy to thrive, the principle of separation of powers enshrined in the constitution must not be subjected to violation. The youth leaders insisted that there must be strict adherence to democratic ethos and values which should not be desecrated.
The IYC leaders argued that the emerging political situation in the country was a further justification of the growing call for the restructuring of the country.
According to them, the brazen violation of court orders which have become rampant in the current administration, the lingering security issues, among others would be effectively addressed in a restructured Nigeria.
The IYC stressed that it was important for politicians to play by the rule and place the interest of the Nation and its stability above individual and selfish political interest.
The IYC further urged Nigerians to stand by democracy and resist any attempt by any group of persons or political interest to endanger the ideals of democracy in the country.
The IYC also commented on the disturbing state of insecurity occasioned by the herders/farmers killings across the states, called on the political leadership and security agencies to halt the killings. The Council added that Nigerians of good conscience would be disturbed by the reprehensible slaughter of innocent people across the country.
The Council insisted that Nigeria should not be reduced to a killing field.
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Herdsmen-farmers conflicts becoming more sophisticated, deadlier – UN envoy
The Special Representative of UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, says the conflicts between herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria are becoming more sophisticated and deadlier.
Chambas, who is Head, UN Office for West African and the Sahel (UNOWAS), in a report presented to the UN Security Council, said the violence was a major security threat in the region, warning that it risks changing into terrorist attacks.
“Violence between farmers and herders is increasingly a major security threat in the region and risks morphing into the terrorist attacks that have defined the security landscape.
“Farmer-herder conflicts are becoming more sophisticated and deadlier, especially in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
“During four days in June, new spates of attacks and retribution killings between herders and farmers in this region resulted in scores of deaths,’’ the UN envoy for said.
In the Lake Chad Basin, Chambas said in spite of gains made by the Nigerian armed forces and the Multinational Joint Task Force, Boko Haram remained active.
The UN envoy for West Africa and the Sahel said: “The trend of Boko Haram, using female suicide bombers continues, and reportedly almost one in five suicide bombers is a child.
“The most recent attacks on a Nigerian military garrison in Yobe and the ambush of a military convoy in Borno are the latest manifestations of the threats still posed by Boko Haram.
“There is a need for increased support to diplomatic, security and humanitarian responses to Boko Haram, in a holistic manner.
“To this end, UNOWAS is providing technical support for a joint summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), on July 30, as called for by Security Council resolution 2349 (2017).
He explained that the severe depletion of Lake Chad had led to environmental degradation, socio-economic marginalisation and insecurity for 45 million people.
According to him, an estimated 2.3 million people remain displaced by the aggregate effects of insecurity and climate change.
He appealed to Member States to support the humanitarian response to the Lake Chad crisis, which remains critically underfunded and revitalisation of the Lake Chad Basin.
“Let me stress that any military response to security challenges in the region needs to be matched by the implementation of comprehensive strategies linking security and humanitarian interventions to development and human rights initiatives.
“There is also need to increase our collective efforts to address the challenges facing the Sahel region with actions that combine politics, security and development,’’ Chambas stressed.
He said the period under review saw an upsurge in popular discontent in the region manifested through often violent demonstrations calling for political and economic reforms.
“The sometimes violent conduct of security forces, notably in dealing with popular demonstrations, has also fuelled political tensions.
“Commitment by countries of the region and support from the international community will be key to ensuring the effectiveness and accountability of security sector institutions as part of broader security sector reform efforts.
“Several countries continue to struggle with justice, national reconciliation and human rights challenges.
“Among those is the concerning number of high-profile arrests, judicial prosecutions and convictions against political and civil society actors.
“We must collectively continue to urge Member States to provide an enabling environment for the exercise of the freedoms of expression and assembly, which are critical in consolidating democracy and good governance,’’ the UN envoy said.
He said UNOWAS would continue to closely monitor the situation with forthcoming elections in Nigeria, Mauritania and Senegal.
“In some countries of the region, including Nigeria, UNOWAS is working closely with ECOWAS and other partners to support the establishment of national peace architectures that can provide a systematic and inclusive approach to the prevention, management and resolution of conflict.’’ (
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Buhari determined to end farmers/herders crises — Audu Ogbeh
President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to finding a lasting solution to the frequent clashes between herders and farmers in the country, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, Audu Ogbeh, said Monday in Bleiswijk, in the western Netherlands.
The minister gave the assurance during an interactive session with Nigerian postgraduate students studying in Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR), Netherlands, widely regarded as one of the world’s top agricultural research institutions.
He was responding to concerns raised by the students about the security situation in some North Central States in the country, particularly the clashes between pastoralists and farmers.
Ogbeh, the Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State and Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredeolu of Ondo State who are part of President Buhari’s official delegation to the Netherlands, had visited the Research Centre for greenhouses in Bleiswijk, operated by WUR.
After a guided tour of the Centre, Ogbeh told the students that Nigeria was looking forward to their innovation, learning, expertise and knowledge to address some of the current challenges in the agriculture and food security sectors.
‘‘We congratulate you on coming here to pursue your studies, and we expect that when you get back, you’ll find a different situation in the country because we will need some of you to manage the ranches.
‘‘When you do return, it’s people like you whom we hope we can organise to manage the ranches. There will be water, there will be fodder, and there will be electricity and some accommodation for the herdsmen.
‘‘Believe me, after six months, when the herdsmen realise that this new life is better than roaming through the bush, you will have to force him to leave that place.
‘‘It’s going to be slow, it’s going to be a bit expensive but we must end the crisis. We have to stop it because the crisis is unnecessary. The killings are undesirable,’’ Ogbeh said.
The Minister also explained the Federal Government’s decision to encourage ranching in the States, following recommendations by the National Economic Council in March this year.
‘‘We want to have large ranches because we discovered in our research that we have 450 grazing reserves created from 1952 to 1966.
‘‘The entire land mass is 5 million hectares some of which has been encroached upon leaving some 4 million hectares. This is more than enough to keep 80 million cows, assuming if we have 17 cows per hectare.
‘‘So we have the land and we are committed to developing it by providing water and protecting livestock from rustlers,’’ he said.
On his takeaway from the tour of the Centre, Mr Ogbeh said Nigeria had a lot to learn, and replicate at home, on agricultural innovation from the Netherlands, which is the second largest exporter of food, second only to the United States.
Speaking to the students, the NSA encouraged them to consider the ‘‘security angle’’ in their agricultural research to improve the situation at home, in terms of diminishing water, shrinking of spaces, insecurity and others.
‘‘We have spent years from 1964 till now, doing feasibility studies on how to get water back into Lake Chad. Something is wrong if we keep going on and on in perpetuity without getting any result.
‘‘If we are able to solve the problem of lack of water in the Lake Chad, it will discourage people from migrating in large numbers to other places.
‘‘I think we also have to ask young people like you, young men and women, new generation to begin to interface with people in this environment, your colleagues from the Netherlands on how we can deal with this problem,’’ Monguno said.