₦airaland Forum

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, has vowed to fish out perpetrators of the Jan. 1 attacks on Benue villages.

The attackers invaded five villages in Guma and Logo Local Governments where they killed 73 persons and displaced 50,000 others.

The Benue government held a mass burial for the deceased on Thursday in Makurdi.

Idris, who paid a courtesy call on the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, on Thursday in Makurdi, said that security agents were already combing all corners toward apprehending the gunmen.

He called on traditional rulers to cooperate with security agencies in the efforts to restore law and order in Benue.

The Police boss said that operational numbers had been released to the general public and urged the monarch to mobilise his subjects to use them to assist the Police.

Idris condoled the Benue people over the human and material losses, and promised to ensure an end to such carnage.

In his remarks, Ayatse pledged to mobilize the Benue traditional institution to support the IGP to execute the presidential mandate of restoring permanent peace to Benue.

He commended the IGP for measures already taken to avert further crises, but urged him to do more to restore normalcy in the affected communities.

The paramount ruler also charged him to fish out the attackers and bring them to book, and advised the IGP to make phone contacts available to the 10 first class chiefs in the state.

The IGP has been given a presidential order to relocate to Benue and remain there until permanent peace was restored.

The mass burial for the 75 victims of the herdsmen attack in two communities in Benue state on January 1st and 6th, is currently taking place in Makurdi, the state capital.

The state governor, Samuel Ortom, members of the state executive council and residents in the state are at the burial site. The remains of the deceased persons mainly women and children, will be buried at at the Industrial Layout, along Naka Road, Makurdi.

Mr Akpenheen Amile, a Livestock Guard, who is being treated of gunshots sustained in the Jan. 2 attack on villages in Guma, Benue State, says he is yet to establish contact with his four wives and 18 children.

“I am in physical pains from gunshot injuries, but such pains don’t hurt me like the inability to ascertain the fate of my four wives and 18 children,” Amile said on Wednesday in Makurdi. Five villages in Guma and Logo Local Governments were attacked by unknown gunmen on Jan. 1 and 2.

According to the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), 73 people have so far been confirmed killed by the invaders. Amile, who is married to five wives, told NAN that only his fifth wife was with him. The livestock guard, who is being treated at the Benue State Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), said that he was shot on one of his legs.

“I am physically in pains, but I am more worried about the psychological pains caused by the disconnection with my family. “As it is, I don’t know whether they are among the dead or they have fled to some unknown destination for safety,” he said.

Amile, who claimed that the attackers were dressed in herdsmen attire, said that they arrived “around 5 p.m. and started shooting anyone on sight”. Speaking through an interpreter, Amile said that he was with other Livestock Guards employed by the Benue Government to enforce the anti-open grazing law, when the gunmen descended on them. “We were at our camp at a primary school at Iwer, in Guma, when the gunmen sorrounded us and started shooting.

“It was while I was running for safety that I was shot on the leg. We had to flee because we were not armed. Besides, we were taken by surprise. “They killed many Livestock Guards and many of us were wounded. “Since the attack, I have not heard from my four wives and 18 children. Only my fifth wife is here with me. This is causing me sleepless nights; the situation is unbearable,” he said. (NAN)

The police in Benue are holding back on their offensive against suspected killer herdsmen on rampage across the North-Central state, saying they would prioritise an immediate succour and enduring tranquillity for the affected communities instead.

The Benue police commissioner, Bashir Makama, revealed this on Wednesday night that the police are concentrating their energy and resources towards a safe return of recently displaced residents to their communities.

“Let there be peace. Let there be calm. Then, the suspects can be followed and arrested,” Mr. Makama said by telephone amidst demands for government clampdown on the culprits which followed widespread outrage about the killings.

But anti-open grazing campaigners faulted the police tactics, warning that the comments could fuel speculation that the federal government was colluding with the herdsmen.

“You beat the iron while it’s still hot, that’s the blacksmith principle,” said David Ogbole, a Pentecostal preacher in Makurdi who leads a civic coalition against herdsmen activities in Benue State. “The blacksmith knows that if you beat the iron after it gets cold, it won’t bend.”

An estimated 69 people have been killed in suspected herdsmen attacks on villages in the agrarian Benue State between December 31 and January 8, according to Benue State Government officials.

Fifty-nine of the deceased are slated for a mass burial in a village near the Air Force Base in Makurdi, the state capital, on Thursday morning.

The figures include the three officers killed following an ambush on a police patrol team on Monday in Logo Local Government Area, about 200 kilometres east of Makurdi.

The local government was amongst the two local government areas razed down by suspected herdsmen between the New Year eve and New Year day.

The Tiv Area Traditional Council, TATC, has told President Muhammadu Buhari that he would not get a single vote in the state in 2019. They said if “he loves his political future,” he should put a lasting solution to the ongoing killings in the state by Fulani herdsmen.

The pan-cultural organisation gave the warning while rejecting the decision by the Federal Government to designate cattle colonies in different parts of the country.Speaking on Tuesday, the legal adviser of TATC, Chief Edward Ashiekaa, also disclosed that the orgnisation has concluded plans to report to the global community and International Criminal Court, ICC, the atrocities of Fulani herdsmen, including the recent killings of natives in Benue State.

Ashiekaa said, “Of course, Buhari is a Fulani man, he has cattle. But if he loves his political future, he should tackle this matter and bring a solution once and for all because Benue state voted massively for him (in 2015); now, if he contests again (in 2019) and vote is cast, he will get zero vote from Benue State.

“The law has come into being, it has prohibited open-grazing and every citizen must obey this law. The law has also protected cattle owners by prohibiting cattle rustling and providing stiff penalties. The cattle herders are bent on disobeying these laws.

“The international community has to come into it. We are going to the Embassies, United Nations and even the International Criminal Court to ventilate our grievances. We are taking bold steps to inform the world that we are law abiding citizens. We have no capacity to fight the Fulani herdsmen; knowing the type of sophisticated weapons they have, our rural people cannot fight them. We want to win this war at the battle front, we don’t have the capacity to do that. We will win it at the international level and at the federal level.”

Ashiekaa noted that the position of Benue State House of Assembly on anti-Open Grazing Bill enacted was very clear.

He dared the Federal Government to explain what it meant by “cattle colonies,” when, the state government had enacted laws prohibiting open grazing, which was resisted by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association with serious threats.

Ashiekaa said, “The Federal Government has no right to enact the law nullifying the law which has been enacted by the Benue state government. Under the constitution, they don’t have the right. As of now the Benue state government has enacted laws prohibiting open grazing. If you bring the aspect of cattle colony and it fits into our definition of ranching, we will accept it. But as of now there is no definition of cattle colony.

“Miyetti Allah has come out severally to say they will disobey the law; they don’t recognise the law, the law is against their interest, so they will not obey it. Have you ever heard of such a thing in this country? The issue is whether or not the Benue State House of Assembly as a legislature has a right to enact the law that it did.”

The Benue State Government has denied arming militia groups to defend the people against the marauding Fulani herdsmen in the state.

There were reports that troops of 93 Battalion of the Nigerian Army stationed in Takum, Taraba State, have arrested nine well-armed militia from Benue, claiming to be members of government sponsored security volunteers.

The armed gang were arrested at Arufu, a boundary town between Taraba and Benue States, a military intelligence source told told PRNigeria on Tuesday.

Reacting to the report, Tever Akase, media aide to governor Ortom said the story was false and misleading.

He called on the general public to disregard report.

“We read a news report insinuating that some youths arrested by the military at Arufu, a town between Benue and Taraba States are armed militia sponsored by the Benue State Government to defend the territory of the State against invaders.

“We wish to state categorically that the Benue State Government under Governor Samuel Ortom has not recruited any militia group and armed them since the Governor assumed office.

“Governor Ortom is widely recognized for his disarmament policy which brought the amnesty programme leading to the recovery of about 700 arms and ammunition with over 800 youths laying down their weapons to embrace the programme across the State.

“It is also on record that the present administration inherited the State Civilian Joint Task Force from the previous government but later proscribed it.

“Following the enactment of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law in Benue State last year, the Government set up Livestock Guards to help in implementation of the law. The Livestock Guards are not armed personnel. Their job is to ensure compliance with the regulation of ranches establishment and prohibition of open grazing of animals in the State.

The federal government, security agencies and states affected by violent clashes between herdsmen and farmers have devised strategies to check the menace.

This is the major outcome of a crucial security meeting convened by the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, in Abuja on Monday.

The closed-door meeting, which lasted for about five hours, was attended by the governors of Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Niger and Taraba states, and heads of security agencies.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue said there was now synergy among the security agencies, the federal and state governments to combat the challenge.

Mr. Ortom, who was joined by his Taraba counterpart, Darius Ishaku, declined to give details of the strategies, saying it was a security matter not meant for public consumption.

“As you can see all the governors of the states where we have the most challenging security problem are here.

“We have dialogued; we have looked at the problem with the security chiefs and appreciated each other.

“One thing that is central is that we have agreed that killing in any form is not allowed; security men must apprehend and prosecute those responsible.

“There is no point politicising these killings; it is the responsibility of all Nigerians to eliminate the criminality that is resulting in the killings,” Mr. Ortom said

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has declared three days of mourning for those killed in recent attacks on communities in Logo and Guma Local Government Areas of the State.

The mourning period will be from Tuesday to Thursday this week and end with a church service for the victims at the IBB square in Makurdi, followed by mass burial.

Flags will fly at half mast within the mourning period while work will close at 1pm on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Thursday which is the day for the church service and burial of the victims will be work-free day in the State.

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/01/benue-state-governor-ortom-delares-3-days-of-mourning-for-herdsmen-attack-victims/

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has revealed that the ongoing killing of his kinsmen forced him to reconcile with his political rivals, former governor of the state, Gabriel Suswam and immediate past Senate President, David Mark in his quest to find panacea to the problem.

The governor who stated this during the emergency stakeholders meeting held at Government House, Makurdi, said that for the first time after his election in 2015, he had to pick his phone and put calls across to his predecessor, Gabriel Suswam and former Senate president David Mark to seek their input on how to solve this problem of herdsmen invasion of Benue communities.

“I saw this as a problem for all Benue sons and daughters that is beyond party line, which is why l decided to put every sentiment aside, reconciled with relevant stakeholders and sit with them to brainstorm with a view to finding a lasting solution to the crisis.

“I cannot be a leader over dead people. 2019 is in God’s hand. This time, there is need for synergy, cooperation and unity among every Benue people across party lines. Therefore, I have reconciled with them, let them join me to push this fight away from Benue,” Ortom said.

Following the recurring attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen on residents of the state, Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, yesterday announced his withdrawal from all political activities until the problem of herdsmen invasion in the state is adequately addressed by the Federal government.

Last week, suspected herdsmen attacked two communities in the state killing 20 persons including a pregnant woman. Speaking at an emergency stakeholders meeting at the state government house, Governor Ortom said

“I have decided to withdraw from every political activities until this problem is over. I cannot be a leader over dead people. 2019 is in God’s hand. This time, there is need for synergy, cooperation and unity among every Benue people across party lines.”

He urged all the indiegenes form the state to look beyond party and tribal affilations and work with his administration to seek a solution to this recurring attacks that have brought pain and sadness to the state.

While noting that the issue at hand is beyond party politics, he said for the first time in many months, he had to personally call former Governor Gabriel Suswam and former Senate President David Mark to invite them for the emergency stakeholders meeting.

“Yesterday for the first time in months, I called the former governor, Gabriel Suswam and former Senate President, David Mark to inform them about the stakeholders meeting today but was told the former governor traveled out of the country. This issue is beyond party politics.”

Source; https://www.benuepress.com/2018/01/sad-final-year-student-of-microbiology-killed-by-herdsmen-in-benue-state-laid-to-rest/

Peter Aboh, a final year student of Microbiology at Federal University, Lafia in Nasarawa State, who was one of the victims of Fulani herdsmen killings in Benue State recently has been buried.Facebook user, Chukwudi Iwuchukwu

who shared photos from his burial ceremony wrote;

“Peter Aboh was a final year student of Micro Biology at the Federal University, Lafia in Nasarawa State. He was due to graduate in 8 months. Before Fulani herdsmen gruesomely murdered him in his home in Utonkon in Ado LGA”

A non governmental organization known as Global Peace and Life Rescue Initiative (GOPRI) has described as irresponsible, unprofessional and misleading, the statement credited to the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris, yesterday suggesting that the recent massacre in Benue State was a communal clashes and not a herdsmen attack as widely believed.

The group said the statement was unbecoming of the number 1 law enforcer of the most powerful African nation and therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter urgency, relieve him of his position in order to avoid further embarrassment for the country. Executive Director of (GOPRI), Mr Melvin Ejeh stated this in Jos while addressing a coalition of youth groups across the North Central states.

Ejeh wondered why a senior police officer of his position and calibre could make such unprofessional, reckless and unguarded statement without waiting for results of a full investigation. “We were shocked when we heard the statement emanating from the IGP himself and wondered what the future holds for the country with Idris as our IGP. This is an indication of the biased route the investigation into the unprovoked killings will take. “The statement is capable of causing serious breach of peace and a threat to National security if nothing is done by the Commander in Chief. The people of Benue State and the entire middle belt might regard this statement as the presidency’s official position. “While we as a group are not trying to conclude that the attackers were Fulani herdsmen since investigations are still on going and because we are respecters of laws and due process, we find the statement of the IGP as too sudden, hasty and disturbing, suggesting that investigations into the gruesome murder of innocent Nigerians in Benue state can never be fair under Idris kpotun as IGP. The IGP should bury his head in shame now that the leader of Miyetti Allah cattle Breeders in Benue State admitted openly that the Fulani attacks on the state were in retaliation for alleged stealing of their cows.

Former Vice President and chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has described as “disheartening” a statement credited to the chairman of the Arewa Elders Forum, Paul Unongo, that he is a sponsor of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria.

Mr. Abubakar’s reaction comes amidst outrage over recent killings in Benue State by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

In a statement by his spokesman, Paul Ibe, the former Vice President expressed his disappointment at what he described as Mr. Unongo’s “desperately sad and false allegations” which he said came in this period of intense grief in Benue State.

In an interview Mr. Unongo accused Mr. Abubakar of being the chief financier and most influential member of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, the largest body of Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria.

He reportedly said “I am aware that the most powerful person in Miyetti Allah is Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who wants to be the next president. If they are fighting for power and Atiku wants to create problems for Buhari, I don’t know. There are so many possibilities.”

The altercation comes a few days after suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded a community in Benue state and killed at least 20 persons, though the police put the figure at 10, over grazing rights.

The former vice president’s statement read: “Yes, Waziri Atiku Abubakar is a Fulani and proud to be one and has never hidden that fact. However, the Waziri is a thoroughly detribalised Nigerian that would never favour one ethnic group over another”.

It added that in 2017 during the massive flood in Benue State which affected over 100,000 families, the vice president, who holds the Tiv traditional title of ‘Zege Mule U Tiv’, donated cash to the Benue State Government for the care of the victims.

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has said he is not bothered by threats to his life by those who do not want the implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law in the state.

Governor Ortom stated this on Friday at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi, during a courtesy call on him by the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Makurdi branch.



The Governor affirmed that, “if it is not the will of God, no man has the right to take my life or stop the ongoing implementation of the ranching law of the state.”

He told Benue people to remain steadfast till impunity is defeated in Nigeria, saying that, “no sacrifice is too big in the struggle to end the genocide being perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen in parts of Benue State.

“It is time Benue sons and daughters put away political differences and unite to speak with one voice against invasion and occupation of our land, which has left many people dead and property worth billions destroyed.”

He said the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law has come to stay and no amount of intimidation could make the state stop implementing of the legislation.

Source:[url] https://www.benuepress.com/2018/01/if-not-the-will-of-god-no-one-has-the-right-to-take-my-life-gov-ortom-says/[/url]

More photos here: http://www.wizkidblogger.com/2018/01/ciara-poses-braless-in-new-photos.html

Singer and mother of two, Ciara, posed braless in seductive new photos, with her hair braided. Do you like it?

More photos here: http://www.wizkidblogger.com/2018/01/actress-anita-joseph-shares-stunning.html

Anita Joseph who turns a year older today, shared these lovely photos on her IG page. What a butt . Happy Birthday to her.

More photos here: http://www.wizkidblogger.com/2018/01/check-out-photos-from-diddys-new-years.html