From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Have you ever gone through agony? Do you know pain or suffering? If yes, you are in the same boat as Rachael Iorkyaan, a young and promising graduate.
Her dreams have been shattered, her hopes dashed and her body brutally battered by merciless herdsmen. She is on a hospital bed, her face disfigured, her fingers cut off and her future uncertain.
Rachael Iorkyaan graduated last year from Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, (JOSTUM), formerly Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM), where she read Agric Business. Waiting for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, she was full of life and hope. She had dreamt that after service she would go into big-time business, where she would not only fend for herself but also provide opportunities for other young people.
But all that hope has been dashed and expectations cut short. Her family are in agony following the attack on Rachael and many others in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State, some weeks ago.
In tears, she said: “I wasn’t going to wait for government job because I had plans of going into business. I wanted to do business after graduation. I didn’t want government work, but now I can’t do business. As it is, I can’t do the business I dreamt of. I’m handicapped.”
On the night of June 2, about 40 machete-wielding herdsmen dressed in black invaded Antsa village, a community in Makurdi Local Government Area, and maimed10 persons.
Antsa community is located about five kilometers from the city centre and lying along the busy road leading to the Alfred Akawe Torkula Polytechnic, Joseph Sawuan Tarka University Makurdi (JOSTUM) as well as a road Gbajimba and other communities in Guma LGA.
It was said that the herdsmen came between 10pm and 11pm and unleashed mayhem on villagers who were minding their business, selling drinks and food, among others, by the roadside. It was also said that the herdsmen attacked some students of Alfred Akawe Torkula Polytechnic but got away when the soldiers arrived.
Special adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on security and internal affairs, Chief Joseph Har, and the police public relations officer in the state, Catherine Anene, a superintendent of police, confirmed the attack. Anene said six persons were injured and were receiving treatment at the hospital.
When our correspondent visited the hospital, the victims, including Rachael Iorkyaan, Iwuese Ihyongu, Comfort Bemshima and others, were lying on their beds covered in bandages. They were writhing in pain from the machete cuts all over their body.
Narrating her ordeal, Rachael told Daily Sun: “On June 2, 2024, between 10pm and 11pm, we were sitting somewhere in Antsah community where I reside and some people attacked us.
“We were just sitting and they started shouting that herdsmen were coming. We didn’t know which direction to run because we didn’t know where they were coming from. But I ran to a place far from where we sat. I don’t know how they saw me, they followed me where I hid and macheted me all over.
“While they were macheting me, I fell and laid down as though I was dead. So, they left me there. I was there for over one hour and no one came to my rescue. But later when I regained consciousness, I discovered that I was at the hospital here in town.
“I was macheted in three places on my face alone. I don’t have any teeth anymore on the right side of my mouth. My molars and premolars are off. On my left hand, my fingers are no more there again, they cut them all off. On my right hand, my fingers are remaining three. They cut others off.
“They cut me on my back. I have very deep cuts on my head and my shoulder. They were just cutting me everywhere as they liked.
“There were many of them. They were more than 30 putting on black attire with cutlasses. They were Fulani. Recall that they kidnapped some people there recently, this was behind my house.
“I was out with my cousin to buy a few things. At the shop where she was buying things, they also macheted the woman’s children and shot one of the children in the hand. Let government come to our aid. This thing is getting out of hand.”
Rachael could not hold back her tears as she sobbed silently. Her elder sister stood by her side holding her and patting her gently on her shoulder. “Why are you crying again?” she asked.
“I wanted to do business after graduation. I didn’t want government work but now I can’t do business. I’m handicapped. As it is, I can’t do the business I dreamt of. I would appeal to the government to assist me with any job that would help me push my life. Let the government come to our aid.”
Also with several machete cuts was Comfort Bemshima, a widow and mother of three children. Her body was battered, her leg possibly irreparably damaged.
Comfort had lost her husband in 2013 and has been struggling alone to cater for the family. She had a cleaning job at the general hospital at North Bank, Makurdi, where she earned very little salary. So, to increase her earnings, Comfort sold fried bambara nuts, meat and other local snacks by the roadside.
At the time of Daily Sun’s visit, she was in pain and could barely talk. She also had machete cuts on several parts of her body and, according to a medical personnel who didn’t want to be identified, she may lose a leg, except by God’s intervention.
“That Sunday, we were selling opposite Visual Lodge hotel and some men came and attacked us,” she said, holding her head with her injured hands.
“They cut many of us severally with their cutlasses and the government brought us here. We have been here for the past one week. I was brought here unconscious, bleeding from all parts of my body.
“About four of them attacked me. I was running and four of them followed me. When I fell with my face down, they cut me everywhere they liked: my head, hands, arms, legs, back and laps. I shouted until I couldn’t shout anymore.
“In the process of protecting my head, they also cut my fingers. I bled untill blood finished in my body. I survived by God’s grace.
“Since I came, I have received two pints of blood. The little money I sold that day, I also lost it. I have three children and I’m a widow. I lost my husband in an accident in 2013. I do this to support what I earn as a cleaner.”
Comfort, who spoke with much difficulty, expressed worry about the welfare of her children, saying: “The exams would soon come and I have not paid school fees for my last child yet. I went out that day full of hope that after sales I would add money and pay what I could, but see me in the hospital.
“We need government to help us chase these people away from our land. We cannot go to our farms in the day time, we cannot do business or sleep at night. We need help,” she said.
Another young woman, Iwuese Ihyongu, acquired a certificate in community health in August 2023. While waiting to write her professional exams, she decided to do a little business to help herself, instead of staying at home and depending on her parents for everything. But her business has been ruined and her body scarred. She is still traumatized by the horror, the terror and the senseless violence.
She narrated her ordeal: “I was about closing where I used to sell cooked noodles and fried yam by the roadside at Antsah community along University of Agriculture road. Then I heard footsteps as if people were running towards my direction.
“It rained so everywhere was dark. I didn’t see who was coming. So, I decided to turn my light towards where the footsteps were coming from. I saw some men coming.
“I didn’t know what they were holding but I just saw their hands held up with some weapons and I thought it was just sticks. They were very close, coming towards my direction.
“I was confused, I didn’t know where to run to. In that confusion, I ran towards their direction. When I got to them, I bent down and ran past them but about three of them turned and followed me and one cut me at my back and I fell and as I tried to turn, the other one matcheted my hand.
“The only thing coming out of my mouth was Jesus save me. Then the third person cut me on my leg, he raised his hands again to cut me but I begged him not to hit me again.
“I don’t know what they were looking for. He left me and ran towards the other people. I don’t know who they were. They were men, all in black, lanky and tall. That’s all I can remember.”
At the hospital, one of the sympathizers by her bedside urged the government to act fast. While lamenting the incident, Mrs. Lois Alu said: “The government must act fast. The government must help. These innocent victims need justice, they need care and support. The government must ensure their safety, their well-being and their future.
“The government must chase away these monsters, these herdsmen, who have turned our land into a killing field. We need help. We need protection. We need justice.
“Oh, Rachael, my heart bleeds for you. Our prayers are with you. Our tears fall for you. May God heal your wounds. May God restore your hopes, may God bring you justice. May the government hear your cries, may the government act, may the government bring peace to our land.”
While many residents have continued to express worry over the implementation of the anti-open grazing law, the government said security of lives and property of residents were on their top priority list.
Speaking during the Democracy Day celebration on June 12, Governor Alia said: “Our administration, in collaboration with security agencies and relevant stakeholders, has been working round the clock to ensure that Benue is a safe haven for all.
“Although this task has been challenging, the impact so far has been very encouraging. For instance, we have nipped in the bud almost all the inter-ethnic/community skirmishes that were prevalent before and after we came into office.
“Also, farmer/herder crisis and militia attacks have been contained through both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches. And we are determined to lose no sleep until we totally secure our dear state.”
Alia, who outlined other security measures being put in place by his administration, said he has also signed into law, the establishment of a state security outfit known as the Benue State Civil Protection Guards, a formidable force combining our livestock guards and volunteer guards to effectively tackle insecurity in the state.
He further cleared the misinformation making the rounds that the Anti-open Grazing Law had been repealed, saying: “As a matter of fact, the law has been strengthened with more stringent stipulations.”
He appreciated all security agencies and formations domiciled in the state for their priceless sacrifices towards the protection of lives and properties and to all volunteers of information, logistics and other efforts towards securing Benue and urged them to keep up the good work to end insecurity in the state.
While Rachael, Comfort and others are alive to tell their stories, many others were not as lucky as the armed men masquerading as herdsmen have killed hundreds of citizens in the state in the last one year. Between January and June 2024, Benue has recorded over 30 attacks on residents.
While making an attempt to put figures to the attacks, the president of the Tiv socio-cultural organization, Mzough U Tiv (MUT), stated that, from January to March 2024, Benue State recorded over 20 attacks with close to 150 deaths and property worth billions of naira destroyed.
He also said the figures only represent the reported cases of attacks in the said months, as more residents might have been killed in Agatu, Apa, Otukpo, Ogbadibo, Logo, Ukum, Kwande, Makurdi, Gwer West, Gwer East and Guma LGAs, to mention a few.
Beginning from January 9, 2024, villagers in Arufu, Chembe and Mchia communities of Logo LGA of the state fled their homes after armed herdsmen militia invaded their communities and killed seven people.
On January 18, herdsmen killed four persons, including two security personnel, in Okokolo ward, Agatu LGA. On January 23, herdsmen, again, attacked Agatu communities of Ikpele and Okpokpolo and killed two villagers. A week after, they killed five persons, including two soldiers, a personnel of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, (NSCDC) and two other persons in Agatu.
In the same Agatu, on January 31, 2024, herdsmen militia attacked Ugboju community, killed over 15 people while many others were declared missing.
On February 3, armed herdsmen carried out an onslaught, in two Benue communities, Iwili, in Umogidi Ward and Entekpa community all in Adoka district of Otukpo LGA and killed 10 persons.
On February 8, they attacked Umogidi community of Entekpa Ward in Adoka District of Otukpo LGA and killed two people, which was two days after they killed 17 persons in Iwili, Umogidi and Opaha in same Entekpa Ward of Adoka district in Otukpo LGA.
February 14, herdsmen invaded Imana village in Ikobi council ward, of Apa LGA and killed four persons. On February 19, 2024, they attacked Ikobi community in same Apa LGA, killing one person who had just returned from Lagos to see his widowed mother.
Even after Governor Hyacinth Alia summoned a security council meeting on February 20, giving herders an ultimatum to immediately leave Benue State or face arrests and prosecution, they became more emboldened.
Alia had reiterated that the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 (Anti Open Grazing Law) is still in force and warned armed herders and invaders to immediately leave the state. But on Sunday, March 2, 2024, armed herdsmen attacked soldiers deployed to secure and keep peace in Ochumekwu, in Apa LGA of the state, killed one personnel and injured another.
The following day, March 3, they attacked and killed innocent farmers of Udedeku community of Maav-Ya, Mkoonmom district of Mbaikyor council ward, Turan Jato-Aka in Kwande LGA of the state. No figure was given as villagers said they had no way of knowing since the dead were yet to be recovered at that time. On March 4, herdsmen attacked Ukpogo and Odugbo communities of Apa LGA and killed two persons while two persons are missing.
To further mitigate the security challenges in the state, on March 6, after the expiration of the 14 – day ultimatum, the Benue State government ordered security agencies in the state to commence full implementation of the state’s Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law (2017).
In less than 24 hours after the security agencies were directed to implement the anti open grazing law, herdsmen militia attacked Wandoo village, Mbakyor in Mbalom, Gwer-East LGA killing over 18 persons, including a retired soldier and burnt over 30 houses.
After Wandoo, from March 19 to 21, they attacked four villages in Apa LGA again; Akpete, Ijaha, Ochumekwu and Inyapu and killed more than 15 person in three consecutive days, while on March 20, the herdsmen attacked some communities in Ukembregya Tswarev ward of Logo LGA and killed seven persons.
On March 31, armed herdsmen attacked Adija community in Apa LGA and killed three villagers. Between April 13 and 18, herdsmen militia killed 28 persons, including six security operatives of the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards and Livestock Guards, in three communities: Mbabwande, Gyula and along Naka/Adoka road in Gwer West LGA of the State.
On April 20, herdsmen attacked and killed three young men in two commuties in Adoka, Otukpo LGA. On May 3, herdsmen killed three farmers in Ogbaulu community, Agatu LGA,and on May 6, herdsmen killed the commander of Agro Rangers, of the Nigeria Security Civil Defense Corps, (NSCDC), Benue State Command, DSC James Okoh, during a gun duel in Shaapera community, Gwer West LGA.
On May 4, herdsmen also killed a pregnant woman and 10 other persons in Akilo community in Usha council ward in Agatu LGA while on May 6, herdsmen attacked Ogbaulu community in Agatu LGA and killed 10 persons.
On June 2, herdsmen attacked Antsa community in Makurdi LGA and left over 10 persons with several degrees of machete cuts. Among the victims were Rachael, Comfort and Iwuese.
