Nasarawa State Governor,
Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, and his Benue State counterpart, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, were at the State House yesterday to seek
the federal government’s
assistance in tackling the security crises in their
states.

There have been tensions
in the two states following
attacks by members of a
militant group and Fulani
herdsmen during which
over 20 policemen were killed in Nasarawa State and scores of others in Benue State.

The two governors briefed
Vice-President Namadi Sambo on security situations in their
respective states and urged the federal government to urgently
step in.

Al-Makura told reporters after his meeting with the vice-president, the policemen were waylaid and killed on Tuesday by
cultists known as the Ombatse militia group at Alakio village, about 10 km from Lafia, the state
capital.

He said the policemen were part of a contingent drafted to the state to dislodge the group that has been trying to destabilise
the government of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the state.

According to him, the essence of the briefing is to seek the assistance of the federal government in curtailing the activities of the group, which the state government had a year ago
dislodged before they re-
surfaced about a fortnight ago.

Al-Makura said: “Just yesterday(Tuesday), we
had a very bitter security
problem that caused the death of some security officers in the state.

“This is a situation that isso grave and I feel it is very important that I come to brief the vice-president about the security situation and to seek assistance so that we can handle the
matter once and for all.

“Already, the group from
Eggon extraction called Ombatse has been proscribed since the beginning of this year
because of the activities of
the members. They go from one place to another, harbouring arms, attacking any area that has any conflict with any of their
members. The group is
banned and its members are those causing this problem in the state and we feel it is necessary to bring this to the notice of the federal government.

“Before now, there were
one or two arrests. But as a result of yesterday's (Tuesday) event, I am yet to be briefed on the number of arrests that
have been made. Already,
I learnt that security operatives are making arrangements to see how they can contain the
situation. It is on that
point that I will know how
many arrests have been
made.”
He said the state government thought it had subdued the group about a year ago only for it to resurface and resume
hostilities by attacking and
forcibly initiating people
from their tribal group into
their rank.

He said: “Two weeks ago,
we discovered a certain
militia group holding arms
and carrying out cultist
activities in the state. Since
January, this thing has not
abated and in the past two
weeks, it took a total different dimension.

“We decided to hold a
security meeting to find a
way of solving the
problem. The solution was
to go to the shrine and
pick on the cult leader so
that the problem will be
solved once and for all.
“As security operatives
were approaching the
shrine, unknown to them
that ambush had been laid
for them, these people
attacked them and this
resulted in the death of
more than 20 policemen.”
He pledged that his
administration would assist
“victims of the attacks,
those who are security
operatives and those who
are not. We will see how
we can assist their
families.”

Al-Makura’s counterpart in
Benue who also briefed
State House reporters after
his meeting with Sambo
said the state needed the
help of the federal
government to tackle the
insecurity in the area.
Suswam told the reporters
that scores of people,
including of women and
children, were killed and
property worth millions of
naira destroyed in a clash
between Fulani herdsmen
and farmers in Agatu Local
Government Area of the
state.
Although he did not put a
number to the casualties of
the crisis, the governor
said 10 of the attackers,
along with heavy weapons
and many rounds of
ammunition, were nabbed
by the combined task force
of the police the army and
the State Security Service
(SSS) operatives.
He lamented the incident,
adding that proactive
measures must be taken to
check the upsurge of
violence sweeping through
the country.
He explained that during
his meeting with Sambo,
they agreed on the need
for a national conference
to resolve the matter.
“I came to brief the vice-
president on the security
situation in Benue. You
must have heard that there
are serious altercation
between the Fulani and the
local farmers. This time it
happened in Agatu Local
Government, which is one
of the local government
areas that the Senate
president represents, they
almost overrun the local
government, and there
were a lot of killings a lot
of property destroyed.
“I felt that I should come
to brief the vice-president
who is holding forte for
the president and I also
discussed other sundry
issues that relate to the
general security situation
in the country.”

matoskydpg: Indeed, we will wait for confirmation otherwise, it will be the beginning of fresh trouble in Nasarawa State

13volts: More Than 20 Policemen & 10 SSS Operatives Feared Death In Nassarawa Ambush

Its not on the news yet but I can authoritatively confirm that the AC OPERATIONS, AC CID & OC SARS and a doven of policemen alongside some SSS Operatives are feared Death after their convey was ambush inside the jungle of Nassarawa Eggon area.

According to my source, the convey went into a village located deep inside Eggon tribe to effect arrest of a suspected arms dealer and a traditional witch doctor who are fueling the land dispute btw Eggon tribe & Mada tribe in Nassarawa state. However it was suspected that some one might have tip the Eggon people of the inpending raid, of which an ambush was laid resulting in the death of many.

This is surely one of the darkest period in Nigeria police history.

Drbet: Police men and armies can die , even naval officials can die ,who cares ?. They have been paid to die . It is we civilians that I don't want any of us to die that way .
We are the one paying the tax that is paying their salary because after the baga incident . I am not sure if i can trust those sss anymore and their have been some rumors that they have been good at killing civilians claiming they are boko's

wordsmith99:

why not contextualize the term "enemies of the state". In this context, who constitutes enemies of the state? How many Nigerians in core North have dead courtesy of military bullets? How many Nigerians have been rendered homeless courtesy of military expedition? What's d difference between Boko Haram and military operatives? Was it Boko Haram that killed denizens of Baga? What you must fathom is, Nigeria's military doesn't understand d term "strategy and intelligence"

ezeuba:
How can one start to lend any credence to this story when the writer cannot get his grammar right... makes my eyes water to read this junk... try, just try and justify the money your benefactors must have spent on your education...

Sincere 9gerian: The Op is probably right because I just heard a similar news report on Channelstv. But the difference is that Channels reported that about 20 police officers died in the incident. But why is the police so vulnerable?

ezeuba:
How can one start to lend any credence to this story when the writer cannot get his grammar right... makes my eyes water to read this junk... try, just try and justify the money your benefactors must have spent on your education...

imperiouxx: Wat! Nasarawa don turn to Hollywood. 20 askari, 10 SSS lost just in a day? Those people set a record. Soon people will start crying baga, baga again.... Sebi na one soldier life in baga, soldiers exchanged for 180+ lives. May be this will cost the whole town and it's environs. Let's wait and see.

brownlord: What are they looking for in Northern Nigeria Nigerien

wordsmith99:

why not contextualize the term "enemies of the state". In this context, who constitutes enemies of the state? How many Nigerians in core North have dead courtesy of military bullets? How many Nigerians have been rendered homeless courtesy of military expedition? What's d difference between Boko Haram and military operatives? Was it Boko Haram that killed denizens of Baga? What you must fathom is, Nigeria's military doesn't understand d term "strategy and intelligence"

Jan koller.:

do you realy know the meaning of the word "ambush"?

Bloodbath In Nasarawa: 90 Killed As Militiamen Ambush Policemen
Over 90 people were feared killed yesterday in a gun duel involving security operatives and members of the Eggon militia group, Ombatse, in Alakyo village of Lafia East development area of Nasarawa State. The operatives had been drafted there to arrest the leader of the group, Baba Alakyo, and recover arms said to be in his possession.

Of the 11 trucks of security men deployed to the area, only two returned safely to Lafia with only 20 policemen, nine of whom received different degrees of gunshot wounds. One of those killed include an assistant commissioner of police, Momoh, who led the team; some officers of the State Security Service (SSS) and about 15 Civil Defence Corps officers.

Drbet: Police men and armies can die , even naval officials can die ,who cares ?. They have been paid to die . It is we civilians that I don't want any of us to die that way .
We are the one paying the tax that is paying their salary because after the baga incident . I am not sure if i can trust those sss anymore and their have been some rumors that they have been good at killing civilians claiming they are boko's

Osama10: More wahala everyday.

Nigeria: How Blood Flowed Instead of Water At Nasarawa University
BY HIR JOSEPH, 2 MARCH 2013

The soldiers first arrived in three new trucks recently donated by the state government to stem crisis between the Fulani and Eggon militia groups," a student said.

Kwandere crisis: Police confirm three dead, arrest six
POSTED ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH, 2013
Three persons have been confirmed dead while six others have been arrested by the Nasarawa State command of the Nigeria Police for their involvement in the attack on Kwandere, the home town of the state governor, Umaru Al-Makura.

The attack was carried out by suspected Eggon militia

Youth leader accuses Eggon of fuelling crisis in Nasarawa
IGBAWASE UKUMBA 08/02/2012 11:40:00
The president who made the accusation in a petition addressed to Governor Tanko Al-Makura and the state Commissioner of Police, security agencies, including Chairman of the state Traditional Rulers Council and Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Dr. Isa Mustapha Agwai, lgbacher said the war against them was not only from the Fulani, but also the Eggon. According to him, it is alleged that on January 29, 2012, four heavily armed men of Eggon origin, in company of a Fulani, attacked and kidnapped one Timve Asagh while he was on the farm at Angwan Yara with his two other siblings. On January 31, the two brothers went back to their farm in search of the missing Timve and were again attacked. Also in the same area, the personal belongings of Timve were discovered hanging from a tree.

Wisdytech: A whole SSS operativeS? Cant overcome An Ambush, so Na AmBOKO HARAM UNA GO FIT! SHA AM so Sad here! Dat 9ja no longer have who to Represent them When in VIOLENT!

We are not militias, we are a prayer group – Ombatse cult

DECEMBER 22, 2012
By ABEL DANIEL

The OMBATSE traditional prayer group of Eggon people of Nasarawa state has been described by other ethnic groups in the state as a militia group which is being linked with the crisis that has bedeviled the state in recent times. In this interview with Zachary Zamani Allumaga, our correspondent in Lafia, ABEL DANIEL seeks to unravel the secret behind the OMBATSE group and their activities.

The ombatse group has been linked by many to a militia group in Nasarawa state, how would you react to that?
When you find such violence involving Eggon people in the state particularly the southern senatorial zone of Nasarawa state, it means their population is very much. I want you to understand that violence is one of those things that is not acceptable to azhili. But putting azhili aside, all Eggon indigenes are not members of ombatse group.

As it is normal to find Christians and muslims in any society in Nigeria, the same applies to Eggon people in Nasarawa state who might be members of azhili. I don’t think if a Christian or a muslim is caught in any crime, then such Christian or muslim was sent or represents the church or the mosque? The same thing is what is happening. According to the Police, they have arrested over 19 suspects in connection with the recent Agharagu feud. Let them carefully carry out their investigation and tell us if any Eggon person who is involved will claim he is from ombatse or whether ombatse sent them to go and fight.

The reason why there is serious animosity against the ombatse group is simply because they are aware that we went to azhili and prayed for the political landscape of Nasarawa state to change for good, and indeed it changed. Our prayer is working. As 2015 is approaching, we are aware that some people are planning to ensure the Eggon nation is dislodged from the political landscape of the state, so they call us all kinds of names so that they can hang us. But I can assure you, we are prepared to pray to azhili with all legitimacy. Sooner or later, everything will come out clear.

What happened at Nasarawa Eggon leading to road blockage was also connected to the azhili as an attempt to cause crisis that would cause bloodshed…?

steffans: The story is Soooo TRUE cuz I knw some of d SSS guys killed....

By d way... Its an Oracle killing ppl...
Some Military ppl we're kiLled too some days ago...

Its jst 4 prayers...
Eggon ppl are very strong wen it comes to withcraft and d likes!!!!

eGuerrilla: Why is life so cheap in Nigeria?

Does anyone know what grievance the Eggon people have against our security forces?



Source

Nasarawa Mayhem: Traditional Ruler Burnt Alive

He ran from Gidan Rai, in the neighbouring Doma Local Government Area, to take refuge in Agyaragu in the neighbouring Jenkwe, but Zhe Meri, the district head of Gidan Rai and his elder sister were roasted to death in a house where they have been taking refuge.

His keepers ran and escaped from the attack of Wednesday, by Ombatse, a spiritual group of Eggon people of Nasarawa State, whose members stormed Agyaragu and targeted residents of Koro people for killing and burning.

The deceased traditional ruler was trapped in the house, where he was burnt alongside his elder sister, displaced persons who returned to the town to speak to a team of government officials, led by the deputy governor, Dameshi Barua Luka, said.

Reporters were shown to the building, where the charred remains of the traditional rule’s corpse and that of his sister, were sighted at a corner of the burnt one-room apartment.

Smoke was still bellowed from the building, which was part of a large compound sacked by Ombatse.

The administrator of Jenkwe Development Area, Wuduyamba Agidi, who led the deputy governor round the now deserted town, confirmed that nine persons including children, were killed and their bodies burnt.

Death toll rises in Nasarawa mayhem
Death toll has continued to rise from the crisis-hit Agyaragu, at the outskirt of Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, where arsonists stormed the town along Lafia-Makurdi Road, and unleashed violence for about 10 hours on Wednesday.

By early Thursday, when the state deputy governor, Dameshi Barau Luka, and Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hamza Elayo as well as heads of security agencies in the state, paid a visit to the town, nine corpses including children were sighted at various points of the deserted town.

Most of the corpses sited had machete and axe cuts, and were burnt, either on streets or inside the many of the houses burnt down.

eGuerrilla: Thanks @arantess.

I am trying to cure myself of ignorance relating to the needless loss of lives here.
On the surface, while it is clear Nasarawa has been experiencing insurrection for some time now, there is little information on the root cause.


Source

eGuerrilla:

Care to elaborate on the emboldened portion of your post?