Another look at the Benue security conundrum (2)

Governor Suswam did not just confront the problem in isolation. He took into account the importance of establishing cordial relationship with the neigbouring states, especially Nasarawa and Taraba states that seemed to be providing buffers for the assailants. On many occasions, open security meetings were held at the border communities between the governors of the two states to  find solutions to the problem.

Suswam went ahead to also create rapport with the chairmen of the councils of chiefs in these states. At different times, he played host to the Emir of Lafia and the Aku Uka of Wukari. He also visited them and even passed the night in their palaces as was the case when he visited the Aku Uka. All these were conscious attempts at using the traditional institutions of these states to find solution and resolve the lingering crisis and stop the internecine invasion of farmland and Benue communities by the murderous Fulani herders. The two States-Taraba and Nasarawa- were suspected to be habouring the killer herders.

Apart from the moves to find solutions to the incessant attacks that most times leave a trail of blood and tears, Suswam also never shied away from identifying with the affected communities that were ravaged by these marauders. During one of those visits to the affected communities, his convoy was shot at while visiting Tokula, one of the villages that were ravaged by the attacks by the Ak- 47 wielding rampaging herders that led to loss of lives and wanton destruction of properties.

The then Benue governor was passionate in addressing this menace which has since become a recurring decimal in the State.

In 2015 when governor Samuel Ortom took over the reins of power , there seemed to be relative peace which, however did not last before the killings by herders reared it’s ugly head again. By this time, there was a grandswell of mobilization of the Benue people to resist the killings by Fulani herders. Many NGOs, Faith Based Organisations(FBOs), and many human right advocates in the state came together and coalesced into what became the Movement Against Fulani Occupation (MAFO).

The activities of this movement were very intense: They held rallies and processions in Makurdi metropolis, protesting against what they considered as obvious attempts by the killer headers to anihilate the people in their encestral homes and take over their lands; they also advocated complete stoppage of beef consumption by the Benue people. It had seemed they had marginally succeeding. The kernel of the MAFO demand was that the state government should enact a law that will prohibit open grazing. They also advocated for ranching as the best known cattle farming best practice world over. These suggestions to them were the only ways that the gorry killer herders and farmer clashes could be eliminated.

Therefore on 22 May, 2017, the Benue State House of Assembly passed the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017. And governor Samuel Ortom in a public ceremony singed the bill into law on the same date. One of the penalties for the violation of this law was a five – year jail term for herdsmen or pastoralists. This law drew a world-wide condemnation from well known Fulani social cultural associations such as the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Fulani Nationality Movement. Several other prominent Nigerians of Fulani extraction including the Sultanate, criticized this law and openly said they will not obey it.

While there seemed to have been calm in the sate, after the law was enacted, tragedy struck. In the early hours of 1 January, 2018, two local governments of Guma and Logo were invaded simultaneously by the killer herders, killing  over 71 people including women, the elderly and children. Pregnant women had their stomachs slited and the unborn babies removed and smashed. It was such a sorry sight to behold. On 11 January, 2018, governor, Ortom orgonized a mass burial for those killed.

This tragedy was broadcast internationally as the national holocost was widely covered by both national and internatinal media. This was indeed a sad spectacle that escalated what was hitherto considered a local and isolated event into national international attention and prominence. Governor Ortom was now in the eyes of the storm. He also, nevertheless, siezed the moment to emerge a vocal champion of vehement protest against the killings in the state that seemed not to be receding.

The consequences of this mindless attacks and killings were the establishment of IDP camps across Guma, Logo and Makurdi local government areas. By the time Ortom left office as governor on 29 May, 2023, Benue State was said to have over two million of her citizens living in IDPs. Many victims who lost his country home and many valuables, I disagree with this skewed and insensitive framing.

The incumbent governor, Rev. Father (Dr) Hyacinth Iormen Alia took over the leadership of the state on 29 May, 2023. Prior to his assumption of office, the killer herders – farmers conflict was a major campaign issue. He openly promised during his campaigns to end the crisis within a few months as well as returning the people in IDPs within 100 days of his reign to their ancestral homes . However, the situation seem to be different as additional IDPs are being built in the state to accommodate more displaced people. He has even found it difficult to acknowledge that the killers are of Fulani stock who are on a mission to kill the people and takeover their lands. He has been reticent in condemning the attacks and labeling the attackers as terrorists rather, choosing to mildly describe the attacks whenever they occur as “skirmishes”.

However, while this prevarication from the state government has continued, the killers found impetus in the seeming government inaction to onleash mayhem of unimaginable proportions that culminated in the dastardly burning of over 200 people at Yelewata between 13 and 14 June, 2025. Even at that, the government was not willing to accept that there was a problem that required serious outcry for national attention and mitigation. It released an initial tepid figure of casualties of less than 60 People. Nevertheless, when bloggers on the social media, NGOs and the traditional media raised alarm which attracted national and international condemnation including the Pontif, that the state government was forced to come out with an uninspiring statement condemning the Yelewata Massacre. The condolence visit of President Tinubu to the state to commiserate with the government and people seemed not to have yielded any positive results as the killings have continued indiscriminately across the state unabetted.

Before the Yelewata pogorom, 42 people were killed in Aondona, Gwer West local government, 60 farmers were killed in Gbagir in Ukum local government and some parts of Logo local government. Several other people were killed in Agatu and APA local government areas of Benue State.

Though there seems to be some calm in the state of late, intermittent killing of villagers on their farms by these killer herders has continued unrestrained. For instance on the eve of 2025 Christmas, four farmers were ambushed and murdered by the murderous herders at Isherev(Igungu Aze) community in Guma Local Government Area. The armed Fulani marauders have literally taken over the empty and ungoverned spaces in Benue State.

Meanwhile, while the people living in the IDPs are very eager and willing to return to their ancestral homes to continue with their normal lives, the government has not fulfilled its campaign proimiss of returning them to their ancestral homes within the shortest time from when it took over power in the state. The situation has become very uncertain and no one knows when the killings will end and the people will go back home to resume their normal lives.

The Benue Security challenge can not be handled with kid gloves. Many families have been destroyed through the loss of their breadwinners, forceful separation from loved ones, loss of farmland and valuable property. Many people in the affected areas are going through psychological trauma that it will only take God’s intervention for them to come to terms with what has hit them!

It’s incumbent on the government to show empathy, understanding and demonstrate to the affected communities that they are part of the state and that government owes them a responsibility to protect them which, of course, is the primary responsibility of government to protect lives and property of its citizens.

(Conclude)

By Gabriel T Nyitse