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Tag: Killings

  • 300,000 Benue Students out of School over herdsmen attacks

    No fewer than 300,000 children in Benue state are out of school due to incessant attacks by herdsmen, says Secretary of the Benue State Teaching Service Board, Prof. Wilfred Uji.

    Uji, who decried the persistent killings in the state during a press briefing on Tuesday in Makurdi, said the crisis had seriously affected the educational system, especially the primary and secondary school system.

    “Two-hundred thousand of the figure are secondary school students and 100,000 are primary school pupils, which cut across three local government areas,” said Uji.

    Uji named Apa, Agatu, Makurdi, Okpokwu and Ogbadibo as places where pupils had left over fear of being attacked.

    He said, “I was in my office when some of them (teachers) walked in and showed me threat letters and once this kind of letter is written to you, you better take it seriously or the next day, you find yourself in a different form,” he said.

    “The future of our children is under attack and education in Benue State is under attack and has been compromised completely due to the situation we find ourselves in. In the herdsmen and farmers’ crisis, the isolated targets are usually the schoolchildren.

    “If this crisis is between herdsmen and farmers, why the attacks on educational facilities, much the same way like the fight you find in the North-East. There is a connect between the Boko Haram attacks in the North-East and the attacks by Fulani herdsmen in the North-Central in terms of killings and destruction of properties. It is my firm belief that somebody somewhere is trying to destroy the educational standards of Benue.”

  • Benue killings: We’ve recovered 26 more bodies, say locals

    There was a new twist to the killings in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State on Friday as some locals said farmers in Akaanya, Tse Gbum, Kpete and Ulam communities in the local government recovered 26 more bodies.

    They said the victims were killed by people in military uniform, who were allegedly looking for their missing colleagues. About 15 persons were also reported killed on Wednesday.

    The locals who spoke to our correspondent claimed that death toll in the affected communities had risen to 67.

    One of the locals, who did not want his name in print, said, “The record we have is that 41 persons were killed on Thursday, but farmers in some affected communities on Friday afternoon discovered 26 bodies, bringing the total to 67.

    Meanwhile, a source close to the chairman of Ukum Local Government Area, who pleaded anonymity, said the 26 corpses were only those recovered on Friday morning.

    The source said, “As it is now, we have recovered 26 dead bodies. Yesterday (Thursday), about 41 persons were killed in Jande Ikura, a community between Benue and Taraba states.

    “We learnt that during the attack, three bodies recovered were those of men dressed in military uniform. So, yesterday (Thursday) between 10 am and 11 am, the same suspected gunmen in military uniform crossed over to some communities in Benue and started shooting, killing people. They claimed that they were looking for their fellow soldiers who had gone missing.

    “They entered Akaanya Tse Gbum and Kpete, which is a riverine area and Ulam, all in Benue, State and killed 26 persons there. Many people are still missing. These people came from Kente area in Taraba State to launch the attack.”

    The source noted that the attackers retreated to their base in Kente after the operation.

    Speaking to journalists shortly after a security council meeting, the Acting Governor of Benue State, Mr. Benson Abounu, said he had yet to be briefed on the casualty rate in Ukum, and that he was only aware of the two persons killed in Makurdi metropolis by the suspected herdsmen.

    “We have had a security council meeting but nobody mentioned anything like that to me,” he added.

    When asked whether he had received a briefing from Ukum Local Government chairman, the acting governor said, “No, the chairman has yet to brief me. At the meeting, we only emphasised the need for security agencies in the state to be proactive rather than being reactive.

    He added, “What they (security men) have been doing is they only go to repel attacks and return instead of mounting checkpoints at the entrance of flashpoints. With the previous strategy, sometimes before the security men could get to where the attacks were taking place, the damage was already done.

    “So, we have asked them to change strategy and guard areas being attacked to forestall further occurrence.”

  • Killings: What we recover from criminals, bandits in Kaduna – Police

    The Police in Kaduna state on Friday said it had recovered 84 arms and 120 live ammunition in the state.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Austin Iwar, stated this at a media briefing in Kaduna.

    Iwar said that the recovered arms comprised 20 AK-47 rifles, 42 dane guns, 15 pump action guns, four locally-made pistols and three revolver guns.

    Also recovered, according to him, are three Boxer motorcycles, three military boats, two berates, two bows and arrows, 40 “weaponized’’ clubs and 30 cutlasses and charms.

    Iwar attributed the successes recorded by the command within a few weeks, to the diligence of officers and men of the command.

    He said that the operation that led to the recovery of the arms was in response to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris’ directive, adding that the command was supported by Kaduna State Government Disarmament Programme.

    According to him, following the directive that all Police commands should immediately commence mop-up of all prohibited and unauthorised firearms to solve the problem of proliferation of firearms in the country, the command swung into action.

    Iwar, however, said that recovery of firearms in the state had been gradual as it involved extensive negotiations, adding that the effort was yielding result.

    He said that the command had always collaborated with community leaders on crime prevention in the state, adding that the relationship helped in developing the renunciation of violence and crime and retrieval of firearms programme.

    “This process led to renunciation by a total of 760 criminals, bandits in Anchau Local Government Area in the state.’’

    He said the programme would be sustained in the state as the command was currently engaging with community leaders across the state to bring criminals into mainstream society.

    The police boss said a total of 70 street gangs called “Sara Suka’’ were arrested, with various dangerous weapons around the state.

    “The weapons include daggers machetes, Weaponized clubs and iron bars,’’ he said

    He said that 20 of the suspects had been charged to court while the remaining were still under investigation and were making useful statements.

    Iwar urged residents of the state to remain law-abiding and report to the police or nearest security agency any suspicious activity for prompt action.

  • What we are doing to stop killings in Kaduna, others – Minister

    The Federal Government is mapping out strategies to halt the incessant killings in Birnin-Gwari in Kaduna State, Interior Minister Abdulrahaman Dambazzau said on Tuesday.

    “The Federal Government is worried over continuous killings, kidnappings and cattle rustling by armed bandits in Birnin-Gwari and is already mapping out strategies to nab the bandits responsible,” Dambazzau said at the palace of the Emir of Birnin-Gwari, Malam Zubairu Jubril-Maigwari.

    Dambazzau was on a visit to the troubled area to assess the security situation.

    The minister was accompanied by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operation, Mr Habila Joshak, and Mr Austin Iwar, Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State.

    He said that government was very concerned about the situation in Kaduna State, particularly the Birnin-Gwari axis, and would do everything to restore order.

    In his remarks, Jubril-Maigwari decried the persistent killings of his people, and appealed to government to intensify efforts to rid the area of bandits.

    The emir said that the armed bandits hibernate in Zamfara State from where they invade his domain and rush back after wreaking havoc.

    He also decried the neglect of his emirate, saying that he had forgotten that Birnin-Gwari was part of Nigeria, until the minister visited.

    The royal father expressed optimism that the situation would improve with the minister’s visit, and urged him to appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to rehabilitate the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari-Jebba road.

    “The Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road has been awarded for rehabilitation because top government officials like senators and governors ply it, but our road has not received similar attention because only peasants ply it,” he alleged.

    Recall that 11 soldiers were killed in the area on March 20, while nine persons, including a bride, were kidnapped by bandits who killed two persons on Friday, March 30.

     

  • Killings: Again, Taraba Govt blasts FG, Military, says ‘We’ve lost confidence in you’

    The Taraba State Government on Friday reiterated losing confidence in the Federal Government’s security apparatus in the state, particularly the military to curtail the recent killings by Fulani herdsmen in the state.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Bala Abu in an interview with The Punch said that the state had not regained its confidence in the military in the state.

    Recall that the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, had through his Spokesman, Col. Tukur Gusau said on Monday that Nigerians had been coming to report soldiers, who were accused of misconduct.

    He said that such soldiers were undergoing disciplinary procedures, but stated that there was no complaint from Taraba.

    But the state government on Tuesday said that the Federal Government was aware of security threats and soldiers’ misconduct in the state.

    In the statement made available to newsmen, the state government cited instances where the Federal Government was informed about the security breach and soldiers’ misconduct.

    In their separate reactions on Tuesday, the Ministry of Defence and the Nigerian Army insisted that they had not received any letter from the Taraba State Government.

    When contacted on Friday, the media aide to the state governor insisted that the state had lost confidence in the military in Taraba.

    Abu stated, “As of now, the state is relatively at peace. Even with the relative peace in Taraba, we do not have confidence in the military that is there. We have lost confidence in the military and we have not regained it.

    “We do not have confidence in the Federal Government’s security apparatus in Taraba. People are being disarmed. They are discriminatory in the way they are doing it. They invade people’s homes to seize machetes and kitchen knives and leave Fulani herdsmen that go about with AK 47.”

    Abu had earlier said that the state Governor, Darius Isaku, had in a letter, dated January 30, 2018, to the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), complained about the attitude of the Commanding Officer of 93 Battalion, Takum, Lt. Col. Ibrahim Gambari.

    He alleged that soldiers always looked the other way when the herdsmen militia killed people.

    It was gathered on Friday that the state government in the last one year had written at least eight letters to the Federal Government on security threats and soldiers’ misconduct in the state.

    It was learnt that the governor had on May 15, 2017, in a letter to the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai, raised the alarm about criminal elements in parts of Donga and Bali local government areas.

    Findings also showed that the governor in a February 14, 2017 letter, written to the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, called for the establishment of a mobile police squadron in Takum.

    It was also gathered that the governor on August 11, 2017, wrote the Office of the National Security Adviser complaining about the conduct of the commanding officer in Takum.

    It was learnt that only the NSA and the vice-president replied the letters to them, out of the eight written to the Federal Government.

    A source stated, “The killings are not being done by the Fulani we know. They are being carried out by the Fulani militias, who were being sponsored by the elite.”

  • Killings: I didn’t abandon Benue during herdsmen, farmers clashes – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said he didn’t abandon Benue State during the herdsmen and farmers clashes that claimed 73 lives.

    The president also said that government was deeply worried about the incessant attacks on Benue’s rural communities, and vowed to end the menace “very soon”.

    The president said this on Monday when he visited the state.

    He also met with farmers, herdsmen, government officials and other stakeholders as part efforts to resolving the crisis.

    “I cannot overlook the killings in Benue or any other part of Nigeria. I cannot do that. I am genuinely worried about the attacks in Benue and we are doing everything to end them,” he said.

    He said that the insecurity in some states was a major concern to his government, adding that concerted efforts were being made to restore normalcy to every part of the country.

    He, however, said that the meeting was not the best place to expose the inefficiency of his appointees, and appealed to Benue people to exercise restraint and live in peace with their neighbours.

    Buhari appealed to the people to pay more attention to farming, especially rice cultivation, saying that rice importation had dropped by 90 per cent since some states embarked on massive production of the commodity.

    Speaking earlier, Gov Samuel Ortom appealed to the President to upgrade the ongoing military exercise in the state tagged “Ayem Akpatema”, to a wider operation to effectively curb herdsmen attacks.

    “If the exercise is upgraded to a wider operation, it will assist greatly in ending the incessant attacks and senseless killings by herdsmen,” he said

    He urged Benue people to learn to live in peace with other people.

    Ortom said that many states were currently involved in massive cultivation of rice, and urged his people to join the trend.

    The governor reiterated his call for the arrest of the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, alleging that the body was responsible for the killings in Benue.

    Ortom maintained that ranching was the best option for cattle breeding in Nigeria, and advised herdsmen to embrace it so as to minimise the clashes caused by open grazing.

    He also called on the federal government to take over the management of the Benue University Teaching Hospital, College of Education, Katsina-Ala and Benue Polytechnic, Ugbokolo.

    Malam Shetima Mohammed, a representative of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Benue Chapter, however, denied responsibility for the Benue attacks.

    “Our association is a peace loving one and the exact opposite of what is being portrayed,” he declared.

  • Killings: I’m shocked IG spent less than 24hrs in Benue after directing him to relocate – Buhari

    Killings: I’m shocked IG spent less than 24hrs in Benue after directing him to relocate – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday expressed shock that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris spent less than twenty-four hours (24hrs) in troubled Benue after initially directing him to relocate to the state and remain until peace was restored.

    The president also said that government was deeply worried about the incessant attacks on Benue’s rural communities, and vowed to end the menace “very soon”.

    Buhari, who met with farmers, herdsmen, government officials and other stakeholders in Makurdi, denied insinuations that he was not interested in what was happening to the north-central state.

    The president said he was surprised at the revelation that the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, did not spend 24 hours in Benue, when he directed him to relocate to the state and remain there till peace was restored.

    “I am getting to know this in this meeting. I am quite surprised,” he said.

    He, however, said that the meeting was not the best place to expose the inefficiency of his appointees, and appealed to Benue people to exercise restraint and live in peace with their neighbours.

    Buhari appealed to the people to pay more attention to farming, especially rice cultivation, saying that rice importation had dropped by 90 per cent since some states embarked on massive production of the commodity.

    Speaking earlier, Gov Samuel Ortom appealed to the President to upgrade the ongoing military exercise in the state tagged “Ayem Akpatema”, to a wider operation to effectively curb herdsmen attacks.

    “If the exercise is upgraded to a wider operation, it will assist greatly in ending the incessant attacks and senseless killings by herdsmen,” he said

    He urged Benue people to learn to live in peace with other people.

    Ortom said that many states were currently involved in massive cultivation of rice, and urged his people to join the trend.

    The governor reiterated his call for the arrest of the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, alleging that the body was responsible for the killings in Benue.

    Ortom maintained that ranching was the best option for cattle breeding in Nigeria, and advised herdsmen to embrace it so as to minimise the clashes caused by open grazing.

    He also called on the federal government to take over the management of the Benue University Teaching Hospital, College of Education, Katsina-Ala and Benue Polytechnic, Ugbokolo.

    Malam Shetima Mohammed, a representative of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Benue Chapter, however, denied responsibility for the Benue attacks.

    “Our association is a peace loving one and the exact opposite of what is being portrayed,” he declared.

  • Killings: IGP cautions on anti-grazing laws, to mop up illegal arms

    The Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris on Wednesday advised state governors to prioritise the establishment of cattle ranches before enacting anti-grazing laws, to avert conflict between farmers and herdsmen.

    The IGP gave the advice at the Northern States Stakeholders Security Summit, with the theme, `National Building: Security Challenges and the Need for Inclusive Approach’, held in Kaduna.

    “It ¡s my humble suggestion that to reduce the incidence of clashes between farmers and herders in Nigeria, State Governments should endeavour to establish grazing ranches in their various states before enacting laws to prohibit open rearing and grazing.

    “It ¡s when grazing ranches are established that herders can be arrested and punished for rearing and grazing on the open places.

    “Doing so, I am of the opinion that it will make the law acceptable by all the parties concerned and other critical stakeholders in that all important sector.

    “It will do us good if we avoid the hasty formulation and implementation of such laws across the country in the interest of peace and unity.’’

    According to the IGP, the crisis in Benue would have been mitigated, if the state had first established grazing ranches before prohibiting open grazing.

    Idris disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari had mandated the police to adopt “strategies effective enough to end the recurring Herders/Farmers clashes ¡n Nigeria.’’

    “It must, however, be noted that Framers/Herders clashes did not start with this administration, yet this administration has taken more measures to end the crisis than any previous regime.”

    He added that the Police have made some arrest in Benue and other places, and warned that there would be no sacred cows, as anyone who violates the law would be arrested and prosecuted.

    The IGP also spoke on the problem of banditry in Zamfara, saying that the present administration was taking steps to avert future occurrence.

    “Some arrests have already been made and the outcome of investigation will be made known soonest.’’

    He gave details of efforts to tackle kidnapping in the country, saying that the police had from December, arrested over 200 kidnappers, armed robbery and cattle rustling suspects in various parts of the country.

    “Over 50 AK 47 Rifles, 20 English made pistols, two 5MG Rifles, over 1000 rounds of AK 47 Rifles and other assorted pistols ammunition were recovered from them.

    “These recoveries raise serious alarm on the number of illegal arms and ammunition at the disposal of criminals and bandits.

    “This must not be allowed to continue especially as the 2019 general election is fast approaching.’’

    According to the IGP, all police chiefs in the 36 states and FCT have been directed to mop up of illegally acquired arms and ammunition within 21 days.

    He decried the arming of security outfits formed by some state governments, warning that at the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum, any person found with prohibited firearms will be arrested and prosecuted.

    On the 2019 general elections, Idris appealed to politicians to desist from acts capable of truncating the elections.

    “Election context must not be a do or die affair. It must be approached with the spirit of sportsmanship.

    “Politicians should as a matter of urgent national importance begin to educate their supporters on the need for violent free elections.’’

    He called for the support of well meaning Nigerians for security agencies to make the country safer for all.

    “Let me state unequivocally that the security architecture and infrastructure of any Nation is not strong without the people.

    “The people are the main reason why the architecture ¡s reliable and dependable. You are the building block, without you it will not stand. I urge you to stand strong with the Police in the fight against criminality.’’

    He pledged that the police would continue to discharge its duties efficiently, effectively and in a manner that would earn it the trust and respect of all well meaning Nigerians.

  • Northern Elders Forum appoints new leaders; seeks immediate end to killings

    The Northern Elders Forum, NEF, has appointed new leaders and approved a new structure proposed by its special “Think Thank” Committee.

    A statement issued on Thursday by the chairman of the implementation committee of the forum, Mohammed Kirfi, said the new appointments were made at a meeting which held on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The statement said the meeting also deliberated on critical issues concerning the organisation and the nation at large.

    The statement listed those appointed to run the affairs of the organisation to include Ango Abdullahi, who is the new chairman of Board of Trustees and Convener.

    Mr. Abdullahi takes over from Paul Unongo, who was removed last month and Sani Zangon-Daura who was appointed as interim chairman.

    Mr. Zangon-Daura was reappointed the Deputy Chairman (North West), while Paul Tarfa was appointed the Deputy Chairman (North East), and Yahaya Kwande, Deputy Chairman (North Central).

    The meeting also ratified the appointment of the already existing 21 members of the Board of Trustees and also appointed the management board.

    Those appointed are Mohammed Goni, Chairman of the Management Board, and Patrick Adaba, Vice Chairman.

    Yima Sen was appointed the Director General/CEO, while Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Sam Nda Isiah and Bashir Sodangi were appointed as Directors.

    Others are “Sale Maina, Bitrus Dangiwa, S. Bogoro, N. A. Shariff, M. B. Wali, Bello Suleiman, Sani Aminu Dutsinma, Safiya Illiyasu and Halen Jekelle”

    NEF lamented the state of insecurity in the country and strongly condemned the “horrifying carnage and bloodletting” going on in the North and other parts of Nigeria, associated with the Boko Haram insurgency and farmers and herdsmen clashes.

    “NEF wants an immediate and complete end to these unfortunate happenings and will work with government, other community and civil society organizations, traditional rulers, political leaders and the clergy to ensure that peace returns to the North and to Nigeria.

    “In particular, NEF wants to see a total end to killings across the country,” the statement said.

    The forum also said it would like to see the introduction and application of modern livestock management practices in order to protect herdsmen and farmers, their families and communities, and to enhance their quality of life.

     

  • Police arrest three suspects in connection with killings in Zamfara

    Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force on Sunday arrested three suspects in connection with the recent killings in Birance village in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

    The suspects are : Halilu Garba, 45, alias Mabushi, Zubairu Marafa, 45, alias Wakili and Nafi’u Badamasi, 40, alias Zakiru.

    Recall that the bandits, suspected to be cattle rustlers, had on Feb. 14 killed 18 persons in Birane village.

    The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Ibrahim Idris had deployed additional three units of Police Mobile Force ( PMF) to the area.

    In a statement the Force spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood, said that the suspects, who are now in custody, were assisting the Police in their investigation.

    Moshood said all suspects would be arraigned in court on completion of investigation.

    A joint investigation team, headed by the Assistant Inspector -General of Police in charge of intelligence at the Force Headquarters, was also dispatched to the state to fish out the perpetrators.