[size=14pt]Terror from militant herdsmen[/size]

From Simeon Nwakaudu, Makurdi

28 killed, 500 homes, farmlands razed as armed herdsmen invade 33 Benue villages


EVERYONE agreed there had not ever been that level of wanton destruction of property before in Benue State.



[img]http://odili.net/news/source/2011/feb/18/guardian/images/destroyed-homes_metro_17-02-11_200_160[1].jpg[/img]
Terror from militant herdsmen

http://odili.net/news/source/2011/feb/18/18.html





Not even the 2001 military invasion of Zaki Biam left as much destruction in its wake, though more lives were lost then.



But that is no consolation to residents of the three main farming districts of Gwer West Local Council following conflict with Fulani herdsmen, who hitherto lived peacefully in their midst or moved in during the dry season to graze their cattle.



For three days, armed herdsmen unleashed an orgy of violence on over a radius of about 40 square kilometres and 33 villages, including Tyoughatee/Ijaha, Gbangee/Tongov and Sengev Districts of Gwer West Council in which 500 homes lay in ruins, loved ones killed and farmlands, schools and churches razed.



When The Guardian accompanied security officials and traditional rulers on a visit to the affected communities on Sunday, it was one gory sight after another.



In many instances, the Ter Tyoshin, Chief Daniel Abomtse and his chiefs had to quickly organise a traditional burial for corpses sighted decomposing within an environment.



The militiamen who invaded Tyoughtee, where the death toll has risen to 28, with more than 300 persons critically injured, staged nocturnal attacks on farming villages, razing over 100 homesteads and displacing more than 20,000 villagers.



Thousands of Tiv farmers, women and children fleeing from the invaders are in camps in LGEA Primary School, Naka, and Kula and at Agagbe.



An eyewitness, Orshi Orduen, who is taking refuge at the LGEA Primary School, Naka, said he saw several corpses before he fled the area.



He said the invaders fully kitted in military fatigue and bulletproof vests raped women and girls.



The ?Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, who met with Fulani leaders in Makurdi on Thursday night, pleaded with them to prevail on the militiamen to retreat.



Leader of Fulani in Benue State, Alhaji Ibrahim Gani told Suswam the invaders were not residents of the state but promised he would contact them to retreat.



Suswam, later visited displaced persons in different camps in Naka and Kula, and announced that relief materials and water tankers would be sent to the camps at the weekend.



Contacted, Benue State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Mohammed confirmed the killings, saying the Command was working hard to contain the crisis.



The leading opposition governorship candidate in the state, Prof. Steve Ugba and former Governor George Akume also visited displaced persons in Naka on Saturday and donated N1 million cash and truckloads of food and relief materials.



The traditional ruler of Gwer West, Chief Daniel Abomtse told The Guardian that the leader of the herdsmen, Alhaji Shuaibu Sai, had called him to complain that some of their cattle and one of their relatives had been killed in a conflict with some villagers in the area.



He said he told Alhaji Shuaibu to arrange for a meeting to resolve the issues, but regretted that after that call, all telephone lines of the leader were switched off and all attempts to reach him failed.



"We were expecting them for a meeting, but the leaders were incommunicado. It was on February 8, that we saw the beginning of this invasion. Eye witnesses said they were more than 500, armed and dressed in military uniforms".



For now, the armed herdsmen have retreated across the River Benue to a village in Doma Council of Nasarawa State but not before they had an exchange of gunfire with mobile policemen at the weekend.



It was the ferocity of the exchange and the fact that they did not give ground that led to the deployment of Squadron 49 of the Mobile Police Force last Saturday.



Leader of the Mobile Police Squadron 49, George Clement said that calm was gradually returning to the area but that there was need to provide the 50-man strong force with vehicles for patrol in the affected area, in order to assure residents of their security.



A trader in the Anguhar Market, Obinna Ozor told The Guardian that he lost his entire provision and cosmetic shop worth N870,000 to the invasion.



Ozor appealed to the Federal and Benue State Government to come to their aid, even as he lamented that all the names and calculations so far compiled by the local council of victims of the invasion, excluded non-indigenes.



He said: "Since we lost our possessions in the invasion, nobody has reached out to us. We suffered the same fate as indigenes and should be considered in the compensation package proposed by the governor".



Another trader in Anguhar Market and non-indigene, Best Osoro urged the government not to forget them when compensating victims of the conflict.



"As you can see, our names are not in the list compiled for affected victims. Most of our families are now in Makurdi where our relatives stay. We came here today to see if our names could be added to the lists of victims", he said.



Caretaker Chairman of Gwer West Local Council, Mr. Andrew Ayande commended Governor Gabriel Suswam for his prompt response at mobilising security agencies to ensure that peace returned to the invaded three districts.

When did this happen?

What is the root cause of all this killing in the north?

I doubt these are the same Fulani herdsman whose cattle were allegedly killed by the villagers some weeks back. Where could they have gotten their weapons from?

He said the invaders fully kitted in military fatigue and bulletproof vests violated women and girls.

This case surely demands further urgent investigations

Mai Suya:

I doubt these are the same Fulani herdsman whose cattle were allegedly killed by the villagers some weeks back. Where could they have gotten their weapons from?

This case surely demands further urgent investigations

You sound like you are not a nigerian.

Mai Suya:

I doubt these are the same Fulani herdsman whose cattle were allegedly killed by the villagers some weeks back. Where could they have gotten their weapons from?

This case surely demands further urgent investigations

You are spot on.
We need to get to the bottom of these massacres by Fulani cattle rearers. There is more to it than meets the eye; they seem to be extremly well armed and tactically sound, like they are soldiers or at least have access to weaponry and military training.

Something tells me that Fulani herdsmen are only being used as cover.

Beaf:

You are spot on.
We need to get to the bottom of these massacres by Fulani cattle rearers. There is more to it than meets the eye; they seem to be extremly well armed and tactically sound, like they are soldiers or at least have access to weaponry and military training.

Something tells me that Fulani herdsmen are only being used as cover.

LOL, was thinking the same thing.
My main fear is that my people are busy trading and going about their business as if all is well.

One of these days, we will hear a big gbosaa, and the unarmed will become slaves overnight.
"Fulani herdsmen" my a55.

Beaf:



Something tells me that Fulani herdsmen are only being used as cover.

Same thing I suspect in Ondo's case. What will Ijaw militants be doing with a Yoruba oba?. Aren't these deep undercover cases that needs urgent investigation?.

fulanis and their obsessions with cows.

one sometimes wonders if they aren't closet hindus

oyb 07:50:34 AM Viewing debosky's profile.



Stalkappola?

for intellectuals, not twats who fantasize about violating women 

oyb:

fulanis and their obsessions with cows.

one sometimes wonders if they aren't closet hindus

Their obsession with cows is bordering on edge of paranoia which i think even hindus dont have

Imagine what they would do if one of them is on helms of affair.2011 vote wisely

Lost habitats,diminishing world resources couple with very primitive minds will spell nothing but all out war and rampage.It is just the beginning,soon the more 'developed' world will be doing what these fulanis are doing,fighting for survival at the expense of weak,primitive and unorganized nations like nigeria

And what is FGN doing abt all these crises rocking almost all parts of Nigeria an at d same time? May be sending condolence msgs to families dat of d victims or setting up panels and commitees to invistigate d cause and make recomendations and billions of naira rolled out for this jambore. I wonder what will be our fate if there is an external invasion of this country snc we cant put an end to this crises within how much more external invasion. With all d so called intelligent unit who to me are nothing but dumb fish brains who are only reactive. Nigeria we hail thee

oyb:

fulanis and their obsessions with cows.

[b]one sometimes wonders if they aren't closet hind[/b]us

They are muslims. Don't get it twisted. Hindus are not violent.

aloy/emeka:

They are muslims. Don't get it twisted. Hindus are not violent.

Lol. Hindus can be extremely violent, man. Just read up a bit.

GEJ isnt bothered as long as he gets re-elected

eku_bear:

Lol. Hindus can be extremely violent, man. Just read up a bit.

You got proof?

dayokanu:

GEJ isnt bothered as long as he gets re-elected

He dare not do the right thing or else he will lose some northern votes.

EzeUche_:

Hindus can be very violent. The anti-Muslim riots in Delhi and Mumbai were very brutal. Even Slum Dog Millionaire illustrated this.

I loved that movie.