-Fish out killer-herders, Obaseki orders police
-Troops nab 12 in Benue
By Steve Osu , Jalingo, Patrick Ahanor, Benni City and Musa Umar Bologi, Abuja
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, yesterday, condemned what it described as arbitrary arrest and persecution of its members by both the police and Chairman, Takum Local Government Council, Hon. Shiban Tikari, saying this would not achieve the desired peace.
The position came against the backdrop of some 54 persons arrested by the police, following intelligence report of an alleged planned mass movement of people suspected to be perpetrators of some violent attacks at Bawe, Panshen, Muji 1 and Muji 2 villages, all in Takum local government area.
The crisis between Fulani and natives in Takum and Ussa local government areas, as well as Yanghtu Special Development area, recently got to a head, with about seven people killed and property worth millions of naira destroyed. However, faulting the arrest of Miyetti Allah members yesterday at a press conference in Jalingo, the North-east Zonal Chairman of MACBAN, Alhaji Mafi ndi Danburam, said some ‘destructive elements’ were of the view that the Fulani had no right to live in the state.
He recalled that some of his members, last Wednesday, went to Bantaje Cattle Market to sell their cows, and on their way back, 52 of them were wrongly arrested by the police “under the instruction of Takum Council Chairman, Hon. Shiban Tikari, and were later transferred to the state police command in Jalingo. “We have visited the command and demanded for reasons for their arrest, charges against them, and the complainant statement which has not being made available to us.”
While calling for the intervention of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, Danburam urged all concerned authorities to be fair in their dealings to ensure a lasting peace. “We are really in the hands of elements of destruction who believe that a Fulani man has no right to live and enjoy his right as a citizen in Taraba state. Takum is now a nogo area for us. Our people are being killed, their animals maimed but nobody has been arrested for these crimes”, he said.
Police confi rm arrests Confi rming the arrests, the state Commissioner of Police, David Akinremi, disclosed that 54 persons were apprehended following intelligence report. And in prompt response, Akinremi said, police intercepted four vehicles loaded with herdsmen, all because some natives alleged that the suspects had planned to unleash attack on the communities.
While saying he had directed that the suspects be brought to Jalingo for interrogation, the police boss assured that anyone that could prove his innocence would be freed. Akinremi further clarified that though nothing incriminating was found on the herders, the police had already conveyed 41 of them who claimed to have cows domiciled in Kashimbilla, for further investigation.
The police chief said: “About 41 of the suspects claimed they have cows at Kashimbilla. So, we need to verify if there is any evidence that they took cows to Bantaje for sale. We may probably find out from the native and middlemen if they had performed any transaction with them. “Five of the suspects confessed to be cattle rustlers, while six were believed to be among the perpetrators of the violent attacks in Takum and its environs in recent times.”
Why we raised alarm – Tikari Also speaking to newsmen, Chairman, Takum Local Government, Mr. Tikari, said as the council chair, he owes it a duty to alert the security agents on suspected criminals lurking within his domain. According to him, the influx of herdsmen into the area, and found not grazing cows on their way to Kashimbilla around November and December, not in March, raised some concerns.
Justifying the alarm, the council boss said, “the recent attacks on Panshen, Bawe, Muji 1 and 2 villages, and the information at our disposal that marauders were planning more attacks in Mudi, Tati and Manya, made us to be security conscious. “So, there, my alarm was in order. We must, as leaders, make eff orts to promote peace and not give criminals room to operate.”
Edo wants herders arrested In a related development, Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has handed out a sevenday ultimatum to the police, State Security Service and other security agencies, to apprehend herdsmen allegedly responsible for the death of three persons in Ugboha, Esan SouTheast local government areas of the state.
Obaseki condemned the unwarranted killings, adding that “it’s in contravention of government’s directive that cattle should not move in Edo state at night.” He directed the committee made up of the police, officials of the SSS and other security agencies to work with members of all associations of cattle dealers and people who have information regarding the activities of the bandits, to fi sh them out within the stipulated period.
The victims, two adults and a minor were reportedly hit by a bullet fi red from suspected herders’ riffles on Saturday. It was gathered the herdsmen had barricaded the UgbohaAmedokhan road with their cows and started shooting sporadically and in the process killed the victims. A source who asked not to be named said: “the incident has created tension in the community. “People were returning from the market when the incident happened.
Three people were said to have been killed during the attack,” the source stated. The governor, in a statement issued yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media, Communication and Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, condoled with families of the victims and pledged his administration’s commitment to the safety and security of all Edo people and residents in the state, as well as their property. He appealed to members of the aff ected communities to keep the peace and be rest assured that the culprits will be apprehended and that justice will be served.
Troops nab 12 in Benue In a related development, mother luck ran out on some 12 suspected herders believed to be involved in some criminal activities in Benue state, as Troops of 707 Special Forces Brigade, presently taking part in exercise “Cat Race” arrested them . Army spokesperson, BrigadierGeneral Texas Chukwu, said the suspects were arrested during the visit of the Presidential Assessment Team to Mbayer/Yandev and Kaambee wards of the state. He said: “On search of the general area, 2 motorcycles were recovered from the suspects. “The 12 herdsmen were handed over to the police for further action. Troops continue to maintain vigilance and dominant the general area with patrols,” he said.
