Resurgent herdsmen attacks


After several months since mid-last year, of restoration of relative calm, with the drastic reduction in the violent clashes between herdsmen and farming communities, particularly in the Benue and Plateau states of the North-Central region, there are reports of renewed incessant attacks launched by the herdsmen in a number of states. The security agencies appeared to have at last effectively responded to President Muhammadu Buhari’s serial directives to decisively deal with all forms of violence, including banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and herdsmen-farming community clashes, but that success seems to be waning towards the tail end of the administration’s tenure, particularly with regard to reported recent attacks by herdsmen on a number of communities in some states.


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Resurgent herdsmen attacks
ohanaeze middle belt youths move to end farmers herders crisis
Editorial
March 16, 2023
The Buhari administration must not rest on its oars until terror is defeated


After several months since mid-last year, of restoration of relative calm, with the drastic reduction in the violent clashes between herdsmen and farming communities, particularly in the Benue and Plateau states of the North-Central region, there are reports of renewed incessant attacks launched by the herdsmen in a number of states. The security agencies appeared to have at last effectively responded to President Muhammadu Buhari’s serial directives to decisively deal with all forms of violence, including banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and herdsmen-farming community clashes, but that success seems to be waning towards the tail end of the administration’s tenure, particularly with regard to reported recent attacks by herdsmen on a number of communities in some states.


For instance, early this month, armed herdsmen reportedly launched apparently coordinated attacks on several communities in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State. In the violent invasion which affected such council wards as Moon, Mbaikyor, Mbadara and Ilyav in the local government, over 36 persons were killed, scores of others injured and large numbers of people chased away from their ancestral homelands, with the attacks coming from diverse directions. This reminds us of the large scale killing of residents in several communities across the state which used to be a near daily occurrence. We surely can’t afford regression to those gory days.


In a similar vein also in the first week of March, there were attacks by alleged herdsmen on the Ajegunle/Powerline community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State which reportedly followed closely on similar onslaughts against residents in the Arimogija community in Ose Local Government Area of the state. The five separate attacks within one week, during which several persons were injured, were reportedly ignited by protests by the communities against the destruction of their farms by cows owned by the herdsmen. As in many other states which have passed anti-open grazing laws, the herdsmen allegedly graze their cattle openly with impunity. While the residents deserted their homes for fear of further attacks, the herdsmen were said to have extended their offensive to other communities in the area such as Ago-Dada and Ago-Onyinbo. Apparently, reports to the Ala Police Division as well as the Amotekun Corp yielded no positive results.

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by Taboola
Again, no less than 35 persons were reported killed in clashes in some Zango-Kataf communities of Southern Kaduna last weekend. The clash was ignited by a disagreement between security operatives and some Fulani men at a checkpoint in Ungwan Waikiki which led to the death of a Fulani man and a policeman before flaring into a larger crisis. In the case of Katsina State, there was a slight variant as the violence there last week was said to be as a result of a clash between suspected terrorists and local vigilantes, leading to the death of 18 villagers in Kankara Local Government Area and several others injured.

All these suggest that there may be a deliberate attempt by the sponsors of violence to derail the current delicate and sensitive transition from the incumbent to an incoming administration, resulting in programmed widespread chaos. The security agencies cannot avoid to discount any possibilities as they discharge their mandate of protecting lives and property as well as maintaining stability and national cohesion. Exploiting known fault lines to instigate violence within the context of the inevitable bitter fallouts of highly competitive elections can further destabilise the polity and deepen divisions among people. More than ever before, there is need for efficient and effective intelligence gathering to help nip planned attacks in the bud before they become destructive realities.

In a similar vein also in the first week of March, there were attacks by alleged herdsmen on the Ajegunle/Powerline community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State which reportedly followed closely on similar onslaughts against residents in the Arimogija community in Ose Local Government Area of the state. The five separate attacks within one week, during which several persons were injured, were reportedly ignited by protests by the communities against the destruction of their farms by cows owned by the herdsmen. As in many other states which have passed anti-open grazing laws, the herdsmen allegedly graze their cattle openly with impunity. While the residents deserted their homes for fear of further attacks, the herdsmen were said to have extended their offensive to other communities in the area such as Ago-Dada and Ago-Onyinbo. Apparently, reports to the Ala Police Division as well as the Amotekun Corp yielded no positive results.





The Nation NewspaperMenu
Search for:
Search …
Resurgent herdsmen attacks
ohanaeze middle belt youths move to end farmers herders crisis
Editorial
March 16, 2023
The Buhari administration must not rest on its oars until terror is defeated


After several months since mid-last year, of restoration of relative calm, with the drastic reduction in the violent clashes between herdsmen and farming communities, particularly in the Benue and Plateau states of the North-Central region, there are reports of renewed incessant attacks launched by the herdsmen in a number of states. The security agencies appeared to have at last effectively responded to President Muhammadu Buhari’s serial directives to decisively deal with all forms of violence, including banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and herdsmen-farming community clashes, but that success seems to be waning towards the tail end of the administration’s tenure, particularly with regard to reported recent attacks by herdsmen on a number of communities in some states.


For instance, early this month, armed herdsmen reportedly launched apparently coordinated attacks on several communities in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State. In the violent invasion which affected such council wards as Moon, Mbaikyor, Mbadara and Ilyav in the local government, over 36 persons were killed, scores of others injured and large numbers of people chased away from their ancestral homelands, with the attacks coming from diverse directions. This reminds us of the large scale killing of residents in several communities across the state which used to be a near daily occurrence. We surely can’t afford regression to those gory days.


In a similar vein also in the first week of March, there were attacks by alleged herdsmen on the Ajegunle/Powerline community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State which reportedly followed closely on similar onslaughts against residents in the Arimogija community in Ose Local Government Area of the state. The five separate attacks within one week, during which several persons were injured, were reportedly ignited by protests by the communities against the destruction of their farms by cows owned by the herdsmen. As in many other states which have passed anti-open grazing laws, the herdsmen allegedly graze their cattle openly with impunity. While the residents deserted their homes for fear of further attacks, the herdsmen were said to have extended their offensive to other communities in the area such as Ago-Dada and Ago-Onyinbo. Apparently, reports to the Ala Police Division as well as the Amotekun Corp yielded no positive results.

Again, no less than 35 persons were reported killed in clashes in some Zango-Kataf communities of Southern Kaduna last weekend. The clash was ignited by a disagreement between security operatives and some Fulani men at a checkpoint in Ungwan Waikiki which led to the death of a Fulani man and a policeman before flaring into a larger crisis. In the case of Katsina State, there was a slight variant as the violence there last week was said to be as a result of a clash between suspected terrorists and local vigilantes, leading to the death of 18 villagers in Kankara Local Government Area and several others injured.



The Nation NewspaperMenu
Search for:
Search …
Resurgent herdsmen attacks
ohanaeze middle belt youths move to end farmers herders crisis
Editorial
March 16, 2023
The Buhari administration must not rest on its oars until terror is defeated


After several months since mid-last year, of restoration of relative calm, with the drastic reduction in the violent clashes between herdsmen and farming communities, particularly in the Benue and Plateau states of the North-Central region, there are reports of renewed incessant attacks launched by the herdsmen in a number of states. The security agencies appeared to have at last effectively responded to President Muhammadu Buhari’s serial directives to decisively deal with all forms of violence, including banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and herdsmen-farming community clashes, but that success seems to be waning towards the tail end of the administration’s tenure, particularly with regard to reported recent attacks by herdsmen on a number of communities in some states.


For instance, early this month, armed herdsmen reportedly launched apparently coordinated attacks on several communities in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State. In the violent invasion which affected such council wards as Moon, Mbaikyor, Mbadara and Ilyav in the local government, over 36 persons were killed, scores of others injured and large numbers of people chased away from their ancestral homelands, with the attacks coming from diverse directions. This reminds us of the large scale killing of residents in several communities across the state which used to be a near daily occurrence. We surely can’t afford regression to those gory days.


In a similar vein also in the first week of March, there were attacks by alleged herdsmen on the Ajegunle/Powerline community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State which reportedly followed closely on similar onslaughts against residents in the Arimogija community in Ose Local Government Area of the state. The five separate attacks within one week, during which several persons were injured, were reportedly ignited by protests by the communities against the destruction of their farms by cows owned by the herdsmen. As in many other states which have passed anti-open grazing laws, the herdsmen allegedly graze their cattle openly with impunity. While the residents deserted their homes for fear of further attacks, the herdsmen were said to have extended their offensive to other communities in the area such as Ago-Dada and Ago-Onyinbo. Apparently, reports to the Ala Police Division as well as the Amotekun Corp yielded no positive results.

Sponsored LinksYou May Like
California: Gov Will Cover The Cost To Install Solar if You Live In These Zip Codes
SunValue
Explore now and find something to love.
HOBO
by Taboola
Again, no less than 35 persons were reported killed in clashes in some Zango-Kataf communities of Southern Kaduna last weekend. The clash was ignited by a disagreement between security operatives and some Fulani men at a checkpoint in Ungwan Waikiki which led to the death of a Fulani man and a policeman before flaring into a larger crisis. In the case of Katsina State, there was a slight variant as the violence there last week was said to be as a result of a clash between suspected terrorists and local vigilantes, leading to the death of 18 villagers in Kankara Local Government Area and several others injured.

All these suggest that there may be a deliberate attempt by the sponsors of violence to derail the current delicate and sensitive transition from the incumbent to an incoming administration, resulting in programmed widespread chaos. The security agencies cannot avoid to discount any possibilities as they discharge their mandate of protecting lives and property as well as maintaining stability and national cohesion. Exploiting known fault lines to instigate violence within the context of the inevitable bitter fallouts of highly competitive elections can further destabilise the polity and deepen divisions among people. More than ever before, there is need for efficient and effective intelligence gathering to help nip planned attacks in the bud before they become destructive realities.

The outgoing Buhari administration cannot afford to take its eyes off the ball with regard to sustaining its recent successes in containing insecurity until the very end of its tenure. And, for the incoming administration, it has its work cut out in this regard; it must hit the ground running in introducing measures that will help guarantee the security of lives and property in a complex, plural polity like Nigeria.

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