Follow Us on Google
The Forum of Tyoshin Academics (FoTA) in Benue state has lamented the killing of over 600 people in 10 council wards of Makurdi and Gwer-West Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state in separate
The forum disclosed in a statement titled: “Tyoshin Nation is Bleeding”, signed on behalf of the Forum by the Chairman and Convener of the Forum, Prof. Joseph Kerker and Secretary, Dr. Terkula Maga.
The forum which noted that Gwer West alone have been attacked 54 times in the last 11 years, explained that the deaths were recorded from eight council wards in Gwer-West LGA and two council wards of Makurdi LGA of the state.
The group also pointed out that during the planned attacks, the herders annexed communities, destroyed property worth millions of naira, including worship centers, houses, schools, hospitals, bridges among other social amenities.
While they noted that Tyoshin nation was known for its peaceful and calm atmosphere between her indigenes and settlers alike, the forum said “Today, however, the story is different as armed Fulani herdsmen/militia have turned our land into a slaughter-slab where hardly a day passes without scores being killed with reckless abandon.
“It is apparent, based on the unfolding events that there is a preconceived agenda by the armed herdsmen militia and their sponsors to occupy Tyoshin land using brutal force.
“Between 2011 and 2023, Fulani militia have launched more than 54 separate attacks on Tyoshin people.
“As of 12th February, 2023, over 600 persons from eight council wards; Mbapa, Sengev, Saghev/Ukusu, Mbachohon, Tyoughatee, Mbabuande Gaambe Ushin and Gbaange/Tongov) in Gwer West and two council wards ;Modern Market and Bar in Makurdi LGAs, have been displaced from their homes and are now living in refugee camps in Naka, Makurdi and other parts of the state. This has created a serious humanitarian crisis requiring urgent attention.
“Of this number, women and children constitute a significant proportion of those who have been killed. Our women and daughters are being raped under most dehumanising circumstances and their privacy compromised by armed herdsmen militia. Their dignity and pride of womanhood have been violated. The agony emanating from these abuses will remain with our women for a long time.
“We want the world to know that the scale, magnitude, and the frequency of these attacks have assumed a new dimension that if nothing is done about it, and urgently, it may escalate into total annihilation and annexation of Tyoshin land by these armed Fulani herdsmen/militia.
“We are also saddened by the recent attacks which led to loss of lives of several persons of Tyoshin extraction and the Divisional Police Officer, (DPO), of Gwer West LGA. No amount of provocation can justify such brutality and senseless killings.
“We view these recent attacks that destroyed several communities with high number of human casualty figures as an attempt by the armed Fulani to sustain their occupation agenda and usurp our people’s right to their ancestral lands.”
While expressing worry over the “non-concerned posture of President Buhari,” under whose command, Tyoshin people are experiencing existential threat in the hands of his fellow Fulani kinsmen.
The forum said being a Fulani man and Patron of Fulani Miyetti Allah, a body that has openly and severally claimed responsibility for the numerous attacks in the state, they believe that President Muhammadu Buhari has both moral and constitutional obligations to defend and protect the people of Tyoshin the same way other communities in Nigeria are being protected.
They however appealed to the people to exercise restraint and never take the law into their hands expressing the belief that the culprits will never go unpunished his as they vowed not to surrender any portion of our ancestral land to anyone, in spite of the attacks.
