For Benue state, it’s a double attack from marauding herdsmen and now Corona virus. Writes DANIEL AGBO.
Benue has been recently witnessing the return of herdsmen who had in the past wrecked havoc on the state killing over 500 persons and destroying property worth more than ₦1 billion.This is happening despite the existence of a law prohibiting open grazing.
As it is today, the state is battling with herdsmen attack even in the era of COVID-19 pandemic, which is gradually presenting a serious burden with the state already among those that have recorded the dreaded virus.As at now, the state seems to be facing a serious challenge containing the pandemic of which one case was identified last Saturday and the insecurity posed by the herdsmen invasion on Benue.
The herdsmen invasion
The herdsmen had since the beginning of this year been trouping with their cattle into some border communities of Kwande, Guma and Logo local government areas.The influx had led to killing of more than 10 persons this year alone.
Following this, Governor Sanuel Ortom had earlier raised alarm over the situation and expressed worry that the herders were also moving with sophisticated weapons and seems not to be even afraid of the security men whom he said were overstreched and needed more men and weapons.The comment of the governor generated reactions from the security top rank who disagreed with him saying they were not overstreched, but were on top of the situation.However, barely 24 hours later precisely on March 4 2020, the herdsmen launched attack on Waya community in Jato-Aka, Kwande local government killing four persons while injuring others.
When a federal law maker raised alarm
The attack on Kwande prompted the House of Representatives member for Kwande/Ushongo, Bob Tyough, to address a press conference, raising alarm that people his constituents were being killed by herdsmen on a daily basis.He said herdsmen were invading his community with sophisticated weapons, adding that his people live in fear of the marauders who are bent on taking over their land.He expressed worry that Kwande LGA which is one of the biggests in the state has only 35 police personnel, saying with such, it would difficult for the security men to guarantee the safety of lives and property.
More attacks from herdsmen
Just as the security men were trying to calm the situation in Kwande, the rampaging herdsmen launched another attack on Mbanyiar community and chased away the acting district head of Mbawa in Guma LGA.The herdsmen who were heavily armed also allegedly raped the traditional ruler’s wife and two of his in-laws and also destroyed crops stored in the barn.
The acting district head, Oliver Chado, who spoke to newsmen said the herdsmen had earlier invaded the area and killed domestic animals including goats, pigs and chickens and took others away.Again just a week ago, armed Fulani militias attacked Kwande community, killed a farmer and abducted three women.The attack took place at Div-nzaav community also in Kwande. It happened barely two weeks after the armed herdsmen militias attacked some communities during a wake keep and killed seven mourners.A source from Kwande who is an indigene of Div-Naaze community, Mr Solomon Amande, said the armed herders in their numbers came into the village on a Friday and camped in a nearby swampy area, thereafter condoned the entire area before unleashing mayhem on Sunday.He said in the first compound the militia herdsmen entered, they met one Tarfa Simon and killed him while a woman, Ngusonon Kighir, that was frying garri was heavily matcheted.”On sighting Simon, they killed him and machete the woman. They also took two women with little children while shooting sporadically.”They told the women that they would not kill them because they were instructed not to kill women but men and boys.”They could have killed those children but discovered that the children are all girls after conducting a search on them.””The burden is too much; we are helpless; we don’t have financial power to resist those who are bent on taking over our land . “Year in year out, we are being attacked and killed by armed herdsmen. “Iam appealing to the state government and federal government to create a special camp for our people, because no one can go into the community to reside,” Amande lamented.With the continued attacks on Benue, many people have wondered whether the intension of the herdsmen is only to graze their animals. Investigation shows that the herdsmen have no respect for the law of the land. They kill and destroy property at will.
Ortom reveals their style
Governor Ortom while addressing newsmen had said the herdsmen were doing so not for the purpose of grazing, but to kill and destroy property.He noted that the marauders usually come without cattles and attack communities in guerilla style, kill, burn houses and destroy other properties.He said though the security men are making serious efforts, they however need more personnel to adequately handle it.According to him, the state government had provided vehicles and mobilsed security operatives working in the state had also mobilised the agro rangers who were putting in place more personnel and resources to tackle the security challenge.
“This is a very trying time for the state because we are having communal crisis and external aggression”On the external aggression, the herdsmen are using guerilla warfare. They come without cattle, kill down houses and then go to another place and do the same thing.”Most of them are coming to Benue not for the purpose of grazing but to kill and destroy property.”With the security situation in the state, we require more personnel to be sent by the authority in charge because as I talk to you now, they cannot be everywhere; that is why I talked about being overstreched considering the magnitude of the problem at hand. “I think the Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) on its part has gone ahead to mobilise from the air, land and sea.”We are still working together to see how best we can contain the situation. I believe strongly that things would work out.”
Regional security likely
On whether the Middle Belt region is considering establishing its own security outfit to contain the herdsmen Ortom said, “Every region is working or planning towards establishing their own security outfit and I think we are going to meet very soon as North-central governors.”I think there would be need for Benue state to establish a security outfit to complement what the conventional security agencies are doing.”How can a local government like Guma my home place, have less than 50 police men? As I talk to you, others have less than that. We are not criticising anybody but we are saying the truth. It is something that we can collectively come together to tackle.”It is not the matter of ego but we need to secure the state. We need our farmers to go back or we would have the problem of food security.”We don’t have mechanised farming in the state, but we have peasant farmers and those are the people that provide food for the state. “So I think we would have no option than to create the security outfit,” the governor added. The incessant attack on the state by herdsmen have attracted reactions with some calling in government to convene a conference to find solution to the attacks with others urging the security agencies to step up their operations. The erstwhile governorship candidate on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APGA), John Ahemba Tseayo, follwing the attacks had called on the state government to summon an all inclusive meeting of Benue sons and daughters, devoid of party lines so as to devise proactive ways to addressing the herdsmen attacks on the state.He said the herdsmen have been attacking farming communities in the state for the past nine years. According to him, the attacks have led to the killing of many people, destruction of property, rapes and even occupation of homes deserted by victims of the marauders. Tseayo said it is sad that in the 21st century Nigeria, human life would become so cheap with loses of lives in the name of grazing cattle.
According to Tseayo, it would be unwise on the part of herdsmen to disobey the Open Grazing Prohibition and Establishment of Ranches Laws of Benue State 2017, with reckless abandon.”Nations are waking up to the realities staring them in the face and Benue state cannot be an exception in the search for a solution to this unending security challenge that the people are confronted with,” he noted.Also the Tiv Youth Council Worldwide said they were deeply saddened that killing of the innocent Benue citizens have continued unabated.President of TYC Mike Msuaan, called on security agencies to arrest and prosecute herdsmen perpetrating the inhuman acts.
