From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Worried about the renewed attacks and killings in the state, Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Benue State chapter, Mohammed Risku, has alleged that men in military and paramilitary uniforms were the ones killing herders and farmers in some communities of the state.
Risku, who made the disclosure while speaking to newsmen in Makurdi, yesterday, said no fewer than 31 herders of Fulani origin, including their women and children, have been killed in Benue between January and April 2024, by these unidentified people. He stated that the unknown killers usually come to attack herders and farmers living along the Benue and Nasarawa border communities.
The MACBAN chairman, who lamented that it has become practically impossible to know the true identities of the uniform men, said: “Whenever these unknown people enter the communities, they will begin to attack our people, kill them, kill our cows and even kill local farmers too.
“We have been reporting these strange occurrences to the joint military operations covering Benue and Nasarawa States, but no action has been taken.
“The other day, 11 children were killed around Doma/Gwer West border areas. Again, six herders were killed in Gwer West. They were attacked on bikes and killed by unknown people.
Even at Guma LGA, one herder was attacked and killed, his bike was taken away. All these killings happened this year 2024.”
He advocated the setting up of a special joint security committee by the state government, comprising farmers, herders and other stakeholders, to curb the killings in communities faced with incessant attacks and killings in the state. He disclosed that following continued killings in the state, MACBAN, Benue State chapter, in collaboration with Benue State government, will embark on a statewide advocacy tour of border communities in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States, to sensitise the people on security.
He said the advocacy was necessary, in order to enlighten farmers and herders about ongoing peace efforts by various governments, and the need to address the issue of incessant attacks on communities in local government areas located in and around riverine borders of Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States.
“We will meet with the Fulani Ardos around the border areas of Agatu, Doma, Gwer West, Logo, Guma LGAs to sensitise them about entrenchment of peace and security. We are also going to move to the Wukari LGA and Kanshimbla area of Takum LGA of Taraba State, respectively, to meet with these critical stakeholders,” Risku said.
Meanwhile, Secretary of MACBAN, Alhaji Ibrahim Galma, maintained that the leadership of the Fulani herders in the state has been advocating such a committee, but the government is yet to give approval. Speaking on the persistent attacks and killings in Adoka/Apa and Gwer West LGAs of the state, Galma said it was difficult to ascertain whether the act is being perpetrated by herdsmen of Fulani origin, since they have no representatives in the Adoka and Apa axis.
“Truly, we have been hearing about the attacks and killings in those areas, but we cannot actually conclude if Fulani herdsmen are behind it because we have no representatives from that axis. These Ardos from Zone C, most of their settlements are in Otukpo, Ohimini, Okpokwu and Ado LGAs and they are not connected to the Apa/Adoka areas.
“The herders around those areas are strange people and we believe that they are finding their roots from Nasarawa State. This information I’m giving you, I believe that the police know about it because the entrance is through Rukubi, where they crossed the border. We don’t have anything to do on the issue of attacks and killings. We can only exonerate ourselves from it,” he said.