TheNewsGuru

Tag: Herdsmen

  • Suspected herdsmen attack IDPs camp, kill 7 – Ortom

    Suspected herdsmen attack IDPs camp, kill 7 – Ortom

    Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue, on Tuesday confirmed an attack on Abagena Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Makurdi by suspected herdsmen, that left seven persons dead and many others injured.

    Ortom stated this when he visited the camp, where the IDPs were already protesting the attack by blocking the Makurdi-Lafia road.

    The governor said that the attacks were becoming unacceptable.

    He also said that more than 70 people were killed in Guma, Makurdi and Gwer West local government areas (LGAs), of the state in the last two weeks.

    “You have all seen what is happening within the last two weeks. We have lost over 70 people in Guma, Makurdi and Gwer West LGAs alone, in addition to what you have seen here.

    “Many are in the hospital apart from the seven that were killed. But I want to say that our patience is being overstretched in spite of our preaching of rule of law and due process. You can see that the people are fed up.’’

    Ortom urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to take full responsibility of the security challenges facing the country as he is the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces.

    He also called on other governors to wake up and impress on the president to address the country on the ongoing insecurity in the country.

    “Mr President must rise up; he is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He has taken oath of office to secure and protect lives and property.

    “This (attack) is not acceptable, this cannot continue. Mr President must rise up and address the nation.

    “My colleagues, the governors must rise and impress on the President to call a security submit, if possible to declare a state of emergency on security so that all hands will be on deck to address the situation in the country,’’ he said.

  • JUST IN: Suspected herdsmen murder nine farmers in Nasarawa

    JUST IN: Suspected herdsmen murder nine farmers in Nasarawa

    Suspected herdsmen on Saturday morning killed nine Tiv farmers during an attack on three villages in Doma local government area of Nasarawa State.

    The attacked villages were Ajikamaka, Gidan Rail and Ankoma settlements near Rukubi where Olam farm is located, a border town between Nasarawa and Benue State belonging to the Tiv farmers.

    The settlements belong to late Hon Micheal Koko, a Tiv man, who represented Doma South in Nasarawa Assembly between 1999 and 2007.

    Majority of the victims were said to be deeply asleep when the marauding herdsmen surrounded the villages, set houses on fire and opened fire on fleeing villagers.

    TheNewswGuru learnt that most of the victims were children, women and young boys scurrying to safety.

    The deceased were identified as Tsekaa Chiatyo, Kwaghdoo Tsekaa, Sewuese Tsekaa, Bobo Chiatyo, Aondosee Fidelis, Aboy, Igba Aduku, Iwuesi and Aseer.

    The invasion of the community occurred around 2:00am with the gunmen said to be chanting war songs.

    Deputy Chairman of Doma local government, Hon Atukpa Osukunu, who confirmed the incident, said it was a reprisal.

    He claimed herdsmen, who also settled within the area, found one of them dead in the bush and suspected the Tiv community for the death.

    Nasarawa Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Ramham Nansel, said the attack was yet to be reported to the Police Command.

    President, Tiv Development Association (TIDA) in Nasarawa state, Comrade Peter Ahemba, also confirmed the incident to reporters.

    He lamented recurring attacks on Tiv people, particularly those living at the border areas between Benue and Nasarawa states despite efforts by Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Sule and his Benue counterpart, Dr. Samuel Ortom to ensure lasting peace.

    The Tiv leader lamented that the ugly development has led to the displacement of thousands of Tiv farmers in the area, regretting the incident occurred when the current farming season was about to commence.

     

  • Amotekun arrests herdsmen, 250 cows over farm destruction

    Amotekun arrests herdsmen, 250 cows over farm destruction

    The Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun, on Sunday seized about 250 cows which allegedly destroyed 300-hectare farmland in Ipogun, Ilara Mokin and Owena Dan areas of Ifedore Local Government Area of the state.

    The security outfit also apprehended two herders who accompanied the arrested cows into the farms.

    It was gathered that crops such as cassava, cocoyam, plantain and maize were destroyed by the cows.

    The state Commander of Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, said the corps, on receiving a report on activities of the herders in the communities, mobilised to the area.

    He said, “I was amazed when I saw the level of destruction when we got to the farm. The herders first attacked us, but later ran away. However, we arrested two of them. We also seized over 250 cows.”

    Adeleye said the corps would not fight for compensation for the farmers, adding that, henceforth, cows arrested for destruction of farmlands would be taken to court and auctioned.

    “We will charge them to court and auction the cows. That is the position of the state government and the Amotekun Corps as from now,” he added.

    One of the affected farmers, Mr Joseph Odeyemi said, the herders came with their cows and ate the crops, noting that the attack had been ongoing for the past five years.

    The state Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Alhaji Garba Bello, said the body were ready to compensate the farmers and cooperate with the state government.

    It was gathered an agreement was later signed by MACBAN and Amotekun that cows would not destroy farms, and any herder or cow arrested henceforth would be prosecuted.

  • NSCDC arrests 50 arms-bearing herdsmen

    NSCDC arrests 50 arms-bearing herdsmen

    Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), have arrested 50 arms-bearing herdsmen.

     

    “We arrested 50 illegally armed herdsmen and realised that some of them are into cattle rustling and kidnapping,’’

    Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Audi, said on Wednesday in Abuja He made the declaration while presenting licenses to private guard operators.

    “The armed herdsmen were arrested in Ekiti, Borno and Cross River states and in some other parts of the country,’’ he said.

    Audi added that the arrest of the illegally-armed herdsmen shortly after his assumption of office was an indication of his determination to reposition the corps for optimal delivery on its core mandate.

    “It is part of our mandate to settle disputes between herdsmen and farmers and to also give some security protection to our agro-allied investments,’’ he said.

    Audi stressed the need for synergy between security agencies, noting that the nation’s security challenges could only be addressed substantially through intelligence sharing.

    He charged the private guard operators to ensure valuable contributions to on-going efforts at checking rising insecurity. Lamenting the security challenges, which, he said were asymmetric in nature, he assured that all would be well once relevant stakeholders adopted unity of purpose as their main objective.

     

    “The nation is bedevilled with a very serious insecurity crisis, and that is the asymmetric warfare. “If you want to deal decisively with this, you must synergise with all stakeholders in terms of credible intelligence,’’ he stressed.

    He read the Riot Act to the private guard operators and warned that their licences would be withdrawn if they engaged in unethical practice. Some of the unethical practices, he said, were the adoption of ranks or other accoutrements used by the military or other regular security agencies. Audi enjoined the operators to prioritise the welfare of their guards for optimal results.

     

     

     

  • 81 Ekiti monarchs tackle Fayemi, reject ‘surrendering’ lands to herdsmen for grazing

    81 Ekiti monarchs tackle Fayemi, reject ‘surrendering’ lands to herdsmen for grazing

    Traditional rulers in Ekiti State have rejected the Federal Government’s National Livestock Transformation Plan in the state, describing it as another nomenclature for the Rural Grazing Area, which they call a land grabbing initiative.

    The traditional rulers, under the aegis of Majority Obas of Ekiti Land, who said the scheme would bring about Fulani herders’ occupation of their land, said, “We vehemently oppose surrendering/acquisition of our land to be used as grazing reserves for herdsmen under the proposed NLTP.”

    MOBEL Chairman and the Olomuooke of Omuo-Oke Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Otitoju; Secretary and the Onikun of Ikun-Amure Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Olusola; and 79 traditional rulers, in a letter to Governor Kayode Fayemi, dated March 25, 2021 and titled, ‘Rejection of the proposed Federal Government’s livestock scheme in Ekiti State by MOBEL’, said NTLP was unacceptable to them and as well their subjects.

    The Ekiti State Government has been favorably disposed to NLTP, saying it will reactivate the grazing reserves at Oke Ako and Irele Ekiti for the programme in the state.

    But the traditional rulers said, “We are mindful of the security implications and consequences which will be inimical to the security of our people, knowing full well that the majority of our populace are predominantly peasant farmers.

    “We are also not unmindful of the antecedents of some of the Fulani herders wherever they cohabit with their hosts.

    “Since the time it was reported that Ekiti State is favourably disposed to the proposed programme which will lead to direct occupation of our land by Fulani herders, we have been inundated with series of complaints laden with fears from our subjects both from home and in diaspora.

    “In view of the foregoing, MOBEL, on behalf of our subjects at home and in Diaspora, hereby declares that this proposed programme which we perceive to be another nomenclature for RUGA – the widely rejected land grabbing initiative, is unacceptable to our subjects,” the monarchs stated.

  • Umahi speaks as herdsmen attack, kill 15 in four Ebonyi communities

    Umahi speaks as herdsmen attack, kill 15 in four Ebonyi communities

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has condemned the attack on some communities in Ishielu Local Government Area of the state by suspected gunmen.

    The attack took place on Monday night in Nkalaha, Obegu, Amazu, Nkalagu and Umuhuali Autonomous Communities.

    At least 15 persons were reportedly killed during the attack, allegedly carried out by herders.

    Umahi visited the communities on Tuesday to commiserate with the bereaved families and also ascertain the level of damage by the assailants.

    Addressing the people, he expressed sadness over the gruesome attack.

    He charged all the security agencies in the state to go after the perpetrators in order to bring them to justice.

    “I got very shocking news this afternoon about the attack on about four communities in the state.

    “We feel so sad that this kind of thing should happen in Ebonyi, we feel so worried for our country Nigeria and we are short of words.

    “We condemn this attack because it is capable of causing very serious killings, if allowed to continue this way,” he said.

    Umahi appealed to the communities to remain calm and shun reprisal attacks.

  • Herders flee as Amotekun arrests over 100 cows in Ondo

    Herders flee as Amotekun arrests over 100 cows in Ondo

    Suspected unregistered cow herders in Ondo State ran away as Amotekun officers arrested over 100 cows in the state for flouting the open grazing laws.

    The herders ran away upon sighting operatives of the Amotekun Corps.

    Adetunji Adeleye, Commander of the Corps in the State said the move was part of efforts at curbing crimes in the State.

    He said they were also enforcing directives of the State government that the streets and forest reserves be rid of unregistered herdsmen.

    Adeleye disclosed that the cows were intercepted and arrested at the boundary of Osun and Ondo State.

    He said it took officers about 30 kilometers walk to control the cows to the corps headquarters in Akure, the State capital.

    “I don’t want to narrow it on the issue of capturing cattle. I would want to say it’s a way of reducing crime. These cows were actually blocking the major road leading to the State capital,” he said.

    “One of the occupants of the vehicle that was blocked called our distress line and within few minutes, our men were on ground.

    “We should take note that our men are in all the 18 local government areas and we are on 24 hours patrol. We arrived at the scene promptly.

    “The culprits who sited us on arrival ran away and controlled the cows to follow them, but we were only able to control the cows back,” he said.

  • Herdsmen allegedly invade Sunday Igboho mother’s residence

    Herdsmen allegedly invade Sunday Igboho mother’s residence

    Suspected herdsmen on Sunday allegedly invaded the residence of mother of Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho.

    Igboho’s spokesman, Olayomi Koiki, confirmed this on Sunday night via his Twitter handle.

    He wrote: “Chief Sunday Adeyemo’s mother’s house at Igboho was invaded by three Fulani men this evening around 7:54pm.

    “Two of them escaped, one is currently held at Igboho police station.”

    A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode also confirmed the development on his twitter page.

    He stated: “Three terrorists were caught in Sunday Igboho’s mothers house and not two. One was caught and two escaped.

    “I just spoke to Sunday Igboho and he told me that two foreign Fulani terrorists were apprehended in his mother’s home in Igboho, Oyo state this evening.

    “Their mission was to harm Mama. One of them escaped whilst the other is with the police. Those that sent them are playing with fire.”

    He added: “I am appealing to those who are behind these provocations against his person & reckless attacks to desist from this nonsense.

    “Sunday is a heroic figure in the South West and by far the most powerful, vocal and popular figure in Yorubaland today.

    “Harming him or his family members will not augur well for the peace and stability of our nation.”

  • Attack: ‘I ran more than one and a half kilometres without stopping,’ Ortom recounts near death experience

    Attack: ‘I ran more than one and a half kilometres without stopping,’ Ortom recounts near death experience

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom on Saturday recounted his experience after surviving a deadly attack on his convoy by armed Fulani herdsmen.

    The governor also called on President Muhammadu Buhari and security agencies to fish out the criminals terrorising the state.

    Ortom narrated his experience to newsmen in Makurdi, the Benue State Capital.

    He was visiting a farm when the attackers struck but his security detail was able to repel them.

    The governor said he ran for “more than one and a half kilometres without stopping” to escape the assault.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Benue is one of the States at the centre of Nigeria’s farmers-herdsmen clashes.

    “I appreciate the security men attached to me. They were able to repel them and they could not have access to me. And thank God for my fitness to have ran for more than one and a half kilometres without stopping. It means that God has given me strength and I am grateful to God.

    “I don’t have problems with any Fulani man or Fulani race. But I have a problem with Fulani bandits who have vowed to take over Nigeria as their ancestral home. And I say no. Not when I am here and when I am Governor leading my state. If I can’t go the farm as Governor, with the entire security around me, then who else can go to farm. You can imagine the pains that we have here in Benue State.

    “Thank God for Mr President who responded to my letter that anyone with AK-47 should be shot at sight. I’m yet to see that. Let me see it happen in Benue State.

    “I have reported these to the security agencies and I hope that this will be done so that the land will be safe for our people to go back to farm and do their work and survive and live their lives.

    “I want to call on Mr President, on the security agencies to fish these people out. They are in the forest between Makurdi and Abinse. They are living there and they are coming out to commit atrocities – rape women, kill our people, maim them, destroy our farmlands. And anytime the security agencies go after them, they run across the river and back to the forest.”

  • Herdsmen kill two farmers in Ekiti

    Herdsmen kill two farmers in Ekiti

    Two farmers have been killed in Ekiti State after a clash involving some herders in Isaba, Ikole Local Government Area.

    The police spokesman in the State, Sunday Abutu, who confirmed the incident, said the clash was preceded by a disagreement between both parties.

    Mr. Abutu said police operatives have been deployed to the area to maintain peace while investigation has commenced to unravel the reason behind the unrest.

    Clashes between farmers and herdsmen are common across Nigeria, mostly over land rights issues and open and night grazing.

    Most State Governors have agreed to the establishment of ranches as a solution to open grazing but funding for the required infrastructure and re-training remains a challenge.