TheNewsGuru

Tag: Herdsmen

  • Mayhem looms as vigilantes set out in search of Fulani herdsmen in Delta

    After discovering and removing the corpse of Mr. Happy Akpomieme who was killed by Fulani herdsmen in his farmland in Abraka, Delta state, vigilantes in the area have set out in search of the Fulani herdsmen.

    A source disclosed to TheNewsGuru that the search is “An eye for an eye”.

    Among the team of vigilantes are community youths and other security personnel who are tired of the incessant killings by the Fulani herdmen in the area.

    TheNewsGuru reports, Abraka, a town that is housing the Delta State University (DELSU), has been ravaged severally by Herdsmen.

    This is not their first, neither is it their seventh attempt at invading the town which is situated at Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, leaving scores dead.

     

  • CP Delta blows hot, issues final warning to herdsmen

    CP Delta blows hot, issues final warning to herdsmen

    The Commissioner of Police Delta State Command, CP Muhammed Mustafa has declared that the Nigerian Police Force will no longer condone killings by the Fulani Herdsman in Ethiope East and Delta State under any guise.

    He expressed sadness that Mr. Happy Akpomieme was brutally killed by the Herdsmen in his farmland at Abraka in Ethiope East LGA and his wife Mrs. Patience Akpomieme was also fatally shot and still gasping for breath at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara leaving their 11 children helpless.

    CP Mustafa Mohammed, who spoke on Saturday in Abraka while addressing the family of Happy Akpomieme, Hon. Ivwurie and the leadership of Oruarivie Abraka Initiative led by Prof. Big Ben Oghojafor at the residence of the late Akpomieme sounded a final warning to those involved.

    The CP said the Police would henceforth be hard on those who failed to embrace peace.

    “We want to assure Hon. Ivwurie Evance and Ethiope East that henceforth, we members of the security agencies have collectively resolved to tackle this mayhem and unwarranted killings at all cost. We will engage hard and smart power approaches. To be forewarned is to be forearmed,” CP Mohammed said.

    While lamenting the pains and tribulations of the of the Akpomiemie family CP Mohammed warned that Herdsmen must refrain from taking innocent lives that they cannot create.

     

  • We can’t arrest herdsmen for grazing cattle on airport runways – Police

    The Nigeria Police Force has said it cannot arrest herdsmen for grazing their cattle on airport runways in the country.

    The Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, Mustapha Dandaura, stated this in an interview with newsmen on Friday.

    He said herdsmen could only be arrested in states where the anti-open grazing law was effective.

    However, Dandaura said that all policemen and other security officials at the airports had been instructed to stay on high alert to prevent a situation whereby cows would take over airport runways.

    He said, “It’s only in states where the anti-open grazing law is in place that herdsmen can be arrested for allowing their cattle to graze on airport runways. Apart from those states, we have not been told to start arresting herdsmen.

    “But we have already alerted our men at the airports to ensure such incident does not occur again. The state police commands have also been carried along and everyone is on the alert.

    “We can’t have a situation whereby cows would be straying onto and grazing on airport runways because it is embarrassing. Everyone is now on the alert and it’s going to be prevented.”

    Last Saturday, an Air Peace flight from Lagos had been prevented from landing at the Akure Airport, Ondo State as cows took over the runway.

    It had taken the efforts of airport security and other aviation workers to clear the runway before the airplane landed.

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria had apologised to the airline affected and suspended the head of aviation security at the airport following the bizarre incident.

    A similar incident had occurred in November 2016 when a fully-loaded plane belonging to Air Peace had to abort landing at the Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, Imo State when the pilot discovered that the runway had been invaded by cows.

    Before the Owerri episode, an Air France plane was reported to have collided with cows at the runway of the Port Harcourt International Airport.

  • Benue massacre: Ortom appears before senate over herdsmen, farmers clashes

    Governor Samuel Ortom is currently meeting with the Senate in the ongoing probe by the upper chamber of the National Assembly into the killings by herdsmen in Benue State.

    The governor is appearing before the joint Senate Committee on Police Affairs; and National Security and Intelligence, especially on his indictment by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, over his alleged culpability in the security crisis in the state.

    The meeting is ongoing behind closed doors.

     

    Details later…

  • [Photos] Panic as herdsmen invade council secretariat in Ondo, sack officials

    The was tension at the Akure South Local Government secretariat Tuesday on as over 30 herdsmen reportedly invaded the secretariat era[er randishing different dangerous weapons.

    The invasion of the herders disrupted the official activities at the council secretariat including marriage ceremonies going on at the council’s registry.

    [Photos] Panic as herdsmen invade council secretariat in Ondo, sack officials

    Staffers of the council were driven out of their offices one by one by the herders who allegedly threatened to kill anyone who looked into their eyes.

    Th NewsGuru.com reports that trouble started when a worker in the council warned a herder to take his cows away from the council’s Agric department vegetable farm, located behind the secretariat.

    The herder, a boy of about 8 years, reportedly ignored the warning and allowed the cows to feed on the vegetable planted.

    The local government worker allegedly moved onto the boy and when attempting to make him direct the cows off the farm, the boy fel

    It was gathered that another older herder, suspected to be the father of the boy, who was coming behind and saw what transpired pulled out a sword and engaged the local government worker.

    It was learnt that the worker, who also had a cutlass in his hand, engaged the herder . While both men were exchanging throw of cutlass and sword, the herder was injured.

    The injured herder was said to have mobilized over 30 herdsmen who stormed the Local Government Secretariat and sacked workers from office.

    The herdsmen also went to the secretariat registry and sent away couples who were holding marriage ceremonies.

    Caretaker Chairman of Akure south local government, Mrs Margaret Atere, described the situation as unbelievable and called for prompt security action.

    Workers in the council had fled their respective offices and vowed not to return until their security can be guaranteed

    The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Gbenga Adeyanju led men of his command to the secretariat to assess the situation while soldiers were also sighted at the scene.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the state governor on Security, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo was also as the secretariat to access the situation on ground.

    Both the council worker and the herder who allegedly started the trouble are with the Police for further interrogation.

  • Herdsmen invade, destroy UNILORIN multi-million naira research farms

    Sequel to the invasion and subsequent destruction of a multi-million naira research farm belonging to the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) by cattle belonging to unidentified herdsmen, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sulyman Abdulkareem on Monday held a security meeting with the leaders of 11 Fulani settlements located on the institution’s land.

    The meeting was also attended by representatives of law enforcement agencies comprising the Nigerian Police Force, the Department of State Security Services and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.

    During the meeting, the vice-chancellor warned that the management of the university would no longer tolerate illegal grazing on its land.

    Abdulkareem also ordered squatters who had started building permanent structures on the university’s land without approval from the management to vacate the university land in the interest of peace.

    He said, “We have a multi-million naira programme that is currently at stake now because they (herders) have gone to the extent of uprooting tubers of cassava for their cattle to feed on. We cannot conduct any research or training on the farm again because each time we get to a point where their cattle can feed on it… they go back there and destroy it.”

    The VC said the purpose of the meeting was to decide on a specific deadline for the herdsmen and other illegal settlers to vacate the property.

    Recalling that the university, under his immediate predecessor, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, in 2017 granted a three-month extension window to the settlers on request, he said the herders violated the agreement and failed to comply with it.

    Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Usman Adamu, told the UNIILORIN authorities that the herdsmen destroying the university farm land were not living in the community.

    He claimed that the Fulani had been living peacefully in the environment and had even helped in checking crimes, such as kidnappings, robberies, which hitherto occurred on the university campus.

    Adamu asked for time to come up with an appropriate response on the matter by February 22, 2018.

  • BREAKING: Herdsmen murder, remove organs of kidnapped policeman in Benue

    BREAKING: Herdsmen murder, remove organs of kidnapped policeman in Benue

    The Benue State Police Command has announced the murder of one of its officers recently kidnapped by suspected Fulani herdsmen in the state.

    Recall that four policemen were last week kidnapped and a security van burnt down after suspected Fulani herdsmen ambushed security men in Logo LGA of the state.

    The officers were said to be returning from a confidence-building mission in remote villages when suspected herdsmen opened fire on them in Tse Akpam village, near Azege town.

    Giving update on the incident, the command’s PRO, Moses Yamu told newsmen on Monday that the lifeless body of the officer was discovered with both eyes, ears and nose plucked out.

    He said, “The Command regrets to announce the death of one of its NCO, who was one of the two remaining missing policemen in the attack of 9/2/2018.

    “He was found brutally slaughtered, with eyes and ears as well as nose removed. We pray that God Almighty grants him eternal rest.

  • Four policemen missing as ‘herdsmen’ ambush police team in Benue

    Four policemen missing as ‘herdsmen’ ambush police team in Benue

    Four police officers were declared missing following an attack on a patrol team in Logo Local Government Area on Saturday.

    The officers were said to be returning from a confidence-building mission in remote villages when suspected herdsmen opened fire on them in Tse Akpam village, near Azege town, Benue Police Command confirmed.

    “We had an encounter around Azege when a team of mobile police went on confidence patrol,” said State Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni.

    He stated further: “When they were coming back at a point in Azege, they started hearing gunfire from inside the bush suspected to be from the herdsmen.There was a serious exchange of gunfire.”

    Owoseni said the attackers burnt a police van and four officers could not be found as at 7:20 p.m. Saturday.

    He said police officer who sustained gunshot injury was taken to the hospital in Ayilamo, the headquarters of Tombo Council Ward about eight kilometres from Azege where the attack occurred.

    “One of our vehicles was set ablaze. So far, on their side, we are still trying to ascertain casualties; while we are yet to see four of our men,” he said.

    He said more officers have been dispatched to the areas to comb for the missing officers.
    The attack comes a day after three persons were killed in separate assaults on villages in the same local government area Thursday night.

    Three persons who sustained injuries in the attacks are currently undergoing treatments at the hospital.
    The Thursday night attack occurred near Anyiin, a town in Logo Local Government Area that serves as a base for police special forces.

    Owoseni said Saturday’s attack should be seen as an evidence of police’s proactive approach towards the crisis.

    “People are saying police are not working, but going on confidence-building patrol is being proactive,” Owoseni said.

    “If we didn’t go on patrol, how would we have suffered this attack?”

    The Commissioner said Azege and its environs are safe, urging the residents to believe in the ability of police to return peace to the entire state.

    “We will not relent, we will continue to take the fight to them and give assurances to the people that we won’t wait until they come and attack them,” he said.

  • Herdsmen/farmers crisis: Nigeria, Niger republic partner to tackle menace

    Herdsmen/farmers crisis: Nigeria, Niger republic partner to tackle menace

    The Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, has assured the republic of Niger that Nigeria will partner with its government to tackle herdsmen/farmers’ conflict.

    Dambazau stated this when Nigerien lawmakers paid him a visit on Friday in Abuja.

    The minister disabused the lawmakers’ minds of the misconception that herdsmen from Niger were responsible for the herdsmen and farmers conflict in Nigeria.

    Dambazau told the lawmakers that the two countries had close relationship in religion and ethnicity.

    “Our relationship is historic; we have very close relationship in ethnicity and religion that it is difficult to know who comes from Nigeria and Niger. We consider ourselves as one family.

    “There is no insinuation anywhere that the herdsmen are only from Niger republic. We have other movements across the sub-region, even from Nigeria,” he said.

    The leader of the Niger parliamentarians’ delegation, Mr Sanusi Mareini, told the minister that there was insinuation that herdsmen from Niger were responsible for the herdsmen and farmers conflict.

    In another development, Damabazau assured the Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Jens Petter Kjemprud, that the government of Nigeria would support Norway on the establishment of more off shore companies in Nigeria.

    The minister gave the assurance when Kjemprud paid him a visit in Abuja.

    The ambassador told the minister that he was on a visit to solicit the support of the Federal Government to enable Norway to set up more multinational companies in Nigeria.

     

  • Edo Govt. bans night grazing to avert Herdsmen/Farmers clash

    The Edo State Government has banned night grazing in the state to avert further herdsmen/farmers clashes.

    The ban also prohibits the carrying of guns by herdsmen while taking care of their herds.

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo, who announced this on Thursday in Benin, said that the government had set up a seven-man committee in each of the 18 Local Government areas of the state to enforce the order.

    Obaseki was speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting with the Serikin Hausa/Fulani from the 18 LGA’s of the state.

    Obaseki charged the committee to visit all cases of herdsmen/farmers clashes in all the local government areas for amicable resolution.

    The seven-man committee composed included the Chairmen of the LGA’s, the Divisional Police Officers (DPO’s), representatives of State Security Service (SSS) and four representatives from each of the communities in the state.

    He said the state government would release the report of clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the state to the committees for review and action.

    “The committees will ensure the registration of all the Serikin Fulani in every community across all the local government areas and the Serikin Fulani will liaise with everyone rearing cattle in the state.

    “There will be another committee that will be headed by me that will include the State Commissioner of Police, the Director of the State Security Service, the Commander of 4 Brigade.

    “Every month, we will meet with representatives of the local government committees to review and examine the progress being made in resolving the herdsmen and farmers’ clashes in the state.

    “A special team made up of the Police, Army, Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies in the state will carry out random patrols and search operations.

    “Any herdsman found possessing firearms will be arrested and charged with illegal possession of firearms as cattle rearers do not need an AK 47 to herd cattle, ” he said.

    The Chairman of Hausa Community in the state, Alhaji Badamasi Saleh, requested that mechanism should be put in place to protect the sources of security information as most members of the communities find it difficult to volunteer information to the security agencies.

    Saleh pledged readiness of the Hausa and Fulani communities to cooperate with the state government and work with the security agencies to fish out any member of their communities who engages in criminal activities.

    He urged the state government to provide the necessary logistics that would aid the task of the monitoring committees in the various local government areas.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Johnson Kokumo, thanked members of the Hausa/Fulani community for finding time to attend the meeting and assured that with their support the clash between Herdsmen and farmers will be checked.