₦airaland Forum

Herdsmen hit Benue State again on Tuesday killing people returning from mass burial.

Sources hinted that the deceased met their untimely death along the Makurdi-Naka road

According to report, the attackers ambushed their victims and slaughtered them along Naka-Makurdi road.

Among the victims were Ayange Tyoban, Ukeyima Azonngu and Ajuju Torgbende.

A source reveals that the victims, who were on a motorcycle, were slaughtered while coming back from Makurdi, after the burial of the two Catholic priests and 17 others worshippers killed last month by the same herdsmen.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/05/herdsmen-kill-residents-returning-from-mass-burial-in-benue/

Nigerian community in the United Kingdom on Tuesday joined Mzough U Tiv United Kingdom, MUTUK in a peaceful protest to the Nigerian High Commission in London over the ongoing killings in Benue State.

Many other Nigerians in different parts of the UK and Europe who were either dressed in black or the Tiv traditional attire came out in their large numbers to support MUTUK in the protest tagged, ‘Operation Stop Fulani Herdsmen Brutal Killings’.

The protesters displayed placards bearing various inscriptions, calling on the Nigerian government to end the ongoing killings in the state.

Some of the inscriptions on the placards bluntly asked President Muhammadu Buhari to ‘stop the Benue genocide on resign.’

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/05/buhari-must-stop-benue-killings-or-resign-now-nigerians-stage-protest-in-uk-photos/

vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday assured Benue people that the killers of two Catholic priests – Rev Fr. Felix Tyolaha and Rev. Fr Joseph Gor – and 17 parishioners will be brought to book.

The priests and parishioners were gunned down on April 24 during a dawn mass at Saint Ignatius Parish, Mbalom community of Gwer East Local Government Council of Benue State.

Osinbajo spoke at Ayati, a small hilltop village on the outskirts of Ikpayongo, in Gwer East Local Government Council, during the funeral service for the victims of the church attack.

The Vice President, who was accompanied on the trip by Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and other top ranking politicians of different political shades, including Senator George Akume, expressed the Federal Government’s commitment to end the attacks.

He said the perpetrators of such dastardly and heinous crimes did not deserve to live among decent people. He prayed for the conversion of their souls.

Thousands of people mostly Catholics were at the Ayati prayer ground as early as 7a.m to secure seats for the event.

There was tight security around the burial site. Only identified dignitaries apart from priests were allowed to gain entry.

John Cardinal Onayikan, the Cardinal of the Abuja Catholic Diocese, urged Nigerians to rise above religious, political and ethnic divides to save the country from drifting into anarchy.

In his sermon at the service, the Cardinal said the killings across the country must stop and called on well-meaning Nigerians to unite in fighting the great evil that had befallen the country.

“This must not be politicized. The nation is in a state of emergency. We demand for synergy; division, especially on tribal lines so as not to throw our nation to anarchy,” he said

He called on the Federal Government to act decisively to end the spate of killings across the country.

The cardinal called on the people to be vigilant and “be your brother’s keeper”.

He warned that if murderers were allowed to continue without checkmating them, it will come to a time when people will begin to use other means of self- defence.

Onaiyikan called for forgiveness and warned against reprisals, saying the souls of the righteous were in the hands of God.

He appealed for calm and advised the Christian faithful to show appreciation to God in all situations.

“This is our hope which is based on our trust in God,” the cardinal said.

He described the death of the priests and the others as a “horrific massacre which will not be forgotten for a long time.”

The cardinal said the killed priests and their worshippers were martyrs of the church.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/05/benue-killings-killers-of-priests-others-to-face-justice-vp-osinbajo-says/

Read more here: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/05/read-gov-ortoms-full-speech-during-burial-mass-in-benue/

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, Tuesday broke down in tears while presenting funeral oration at the mass burial of two Rev fathers and over 15 others in Mbalom, Gwer East LGA of the state.

They were among victims of the April 23 attack in the area.

Ortom, who fought back tears while giving his speech, vowed to continue to stand for his people despite the distractions.

Read his speech below:

I am here today with members of my Government to say to all of you that the State deeply shares in your sorrow. We remember not only one moment of tragedy but 19 lives of great purpose and promise.

This is the second mass burial we have the misfortune to organize in the last 5 months. On January 11, 2018, we had the mass funeral and burial of 73 of our patriots who were slaughtered in the 2018 New Year attacks by armed herdsmen in Guma and Logo Local Government Areas of Benue State.

We never expected another such day. But we were wrong. On 15th March, 2018, we held another mass funeral for 26 victims of herdsmen attack in Omusu, Okpokwu local government area of the state. From January1 to date, Benue is being attacked by herdsmen nearly every day not only in Guma and Logo but also in Ukum, Agatu, Okpokwu, Kwande, Gwer west, Gwer East and even Makurdi LGAs. At least 18 of our 23 LGAs have been attacked.

In the early hours of April 25, Rev. Father Joseph Gor, Rev. Father Felix Tyolaha and 17 other worshipers were again brutally killed by armed herdsmen at Quasi Parish Ukpor, Mbalom in Gwer East Local Government Area. They were in early morning prayers in the Church when they were gunned down.

The Reverend Fathers are not farmers. They were not in the farm. The church where they were holding the mass has no grass. It is therefore curious why Reverend Fathers who do not have a farm and parishioners who were worshiping God would be killed by herdsmen in the Church. By so doing, the armed herdsmen have moved the narrative of the current crisis from search of grass to other obvious motives.

On this very difficult day, in this difficult time for Benue and for Nigeria, it is important to ask our country: what kind of nation are we? What direction do we want to move to? Are we going forward or backward. Are we also in the 21st century? People are killing us.

We know our killers, but they are neither questioned nor arrested. In two separate Press Conferences which were widely reported in the media the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore and Miyetti Allah Cattle Herders Association called on Fulani herders in all of West Africa and beyond to reject the state law on Ranching and to come into Benue to help them reclaim their land.

They swore that, “more blood will flow in Benue” if the Ranching Law is not rescinded. We are continually being killed not because we do not know our killers. It is because we know our killers that we are being killed. Our concern is not with herdsmen militia, Libyans, Boko Haram, ISIS or any mercenary. Our concern is those who hire them, who bring them and show them the killing fields. The arrest and prosecution of Miyette Allah Kautal Hore and Miyetti Allah Cattle Herders Association will be the beginning of elementary practice of justice for the 492 people so far killed in Benue by herdsmen.

Our Ranching Law which prohibits open grazing is an instrument of development. It launches Nigeria into the 21st century where open grazing is extinct in many other countries of the world. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, USDA, India has 303million cattle, Brazil has 226m, China has100m, USA has 93m, European Union 89m, Argentina 53m and Australia 27m. All these countries ranch their animals. Nigeria has only a little less than 20 million cattle which should be ranched. Ranching provides an avenue for both crop farmers and those involved in animal husbandry to increase production using modern technology.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/05/read-gov-ortoms-full-speech-during-burial-mass-in-benue/

The embattled Senator representing Kogi West in the National Assembly, Dino Melaye has been granted bail by a Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja.

In his ruling on Wednesday morning, the Kogi State Chief Judge, Justice Nasiru Ajana said he had considered the health situation of the third defendant, hence the need to admit him to bail with the sum of N10 million with one surety.

Senator Melaye was accused of sponsoring arms and working with suspected political thugs – Kabiru Saidu AkA Osama ahead of the 2019 general elections.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/05/senator-dino-melaye-finally-regains-freedom/

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has insisted that the state was not fighting a war with any ethnic group.

Ortom stated this during the inauguration of 10 first-class chiefs at the IBB square, Makurdi, on Monday.

The governor urged the people of the state to be law-abiding and restrain from reprisal no matter the provocation.

He said, “Let me say that the state has passed through the crisis but we thank God for peace now. Let me emphasise here that we in the state are not at war with any ethnic group, the enactment of the anti-open grazing law was to ensure peace in the state.”

He enjoined traditional leaders on proper behaviour, saying, “You should also avoid social relationships that are improper or give rise to an appearance of impropriety that cast doubt on the institution’s ability to decide cases impartially or bring disrespect to the traditional institution.”

Chairman, Benue Traditional Council, Tor Tiv, HRM Prof. James Ayatse, while commending the state government for giving attention to the traditional institution, urged the people of the state to obtain their voters’ cards to be eligible to vote for candidates of their choice in 2019.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/05/benue-killings-we-are-not-at-war-with-any-ethnic-group-gov-ortom/

A Makurdi-based lawyer, Matthew Nyiutsa has filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja demanding the proscription of Fulani herdsmen as terrorist group.
The lawyer joins President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, as respondents in the matter.

In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/499/18, the lawyer argues that the activities of Fulani herdsmen in Benue State, and the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore constitute acts of terrorism under the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 as amended.

The lawyer claimed that the activities of the herdsmen in Benue State has resulted in "the deliberate and intentional killings, massacre, wanton destruction of both private and public properties including residential and commercial houses, schools, hospitals/clinics, markets, water boreholes/reservoirs, and invasion of ancestral lands of the inhabitants."

He asks the court to declare that the armed attacks particularly from January 1, 2018 to May, 2018 on inhabitants of communities in Guma, Logo, Makurdi, Gwer-East, Buruku, Tarka, Katsina-Ala and Ukum Local government Areas of Benue state by Fulani herdsmen using sophisticated weapons like AK- 47 automatic riffles which has resulted in deaths of over 200 persons, destruction of both private and public properties in Mbadwen, Uvir, Mbabai, Nyier, Mbayer/Yandev and Saghev Council wards of Guma Local government and some parts of Gwer- West Local Government Areas.

The lawyer is also demanding the sum of N50 million as examplary damages over the attacks. No date has been fixed for the hearing.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/05/lawyer-sues-buhari-over-benue-killings-demands-ban-of-fulani-herdsmen/

The rift between Davido and Wizkid can be regarded as one of the most talked about rifts in the history of Nigerian music. However, ‘Fia’ crooner Davido has recounted how they decided to mend their broken fences and reconcile.

Davido revealed that they mutually agreed the rift was getting old and becoming physical between their camps.

“It just got to a point where we just thought, this shit is getting old. I mean, it got physical between our camps. We just wanted to make the relationship mutual. He has three kids, I have two kids. I’ve traveled a lot, I have experienced so much more in life, I have two artists that are doing well. Like, this shit is old bro, we’re not getting any younger,” Davido told Native Magazine

The age long feud between these two pop-stars had gone on for years on social media which has led to several social media rants, outbursts and even a physical fight between both camps at One Africa Music Festival held in Dubai.

Before their reconciliation the duo were at loggerheads after Davido received awards at AFRIMMA and Wizkid got his MTV EMA Awards.

Davido started by slamming Wizkid over his wins at the AFRIMA. In an Instagram story post, Davido called AFRIMA fake. Wizkid took to Twitter where he put up the smiley of a frog and splash of water. Everyone got the message, Wizkid was referring to Davido.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/05/davido-reveals-why-he-reconciled-with-wizkid/

President, Yoruba community in Benue, Chief Isaac Akinkunmi, yesterday called on the federal government to step up efforts to check insecurity in the country. Akinkunmi, who made the call while donating relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Abagena camp in Makurdi, described the killings of innocent people in the country, particularly, in Benue state, as “unwarranted.”

He expressed worry over the continuous attacks on the people of Benue state which had left over 200, 000 persons homeless and several children out of school. Akinkumi, who is also chairman, Tito Group of Companies, said there was the need for the Nigerian leaders to “see the lives of people as sacred and avoid equating lives of Nigerians with that of cattle.”

“Nigeria is the only country I know that the whole area is a grazing place. It is in Nigeria that you see cattle in Church, airports, schools and highway,” he said. In his remarks, the executive secretary, state Emergency Management Agency, Emmanuel Shior, commended the gestures of the Yoruba leader.

Shior explained that the agency had informed the governor, Samuel Ortom, of the need to close down two camps due to their vulnerable to attacks by the militia herdsmen. He said: “Recently, we noticed that the militia herdsmen have been attacking two IDPs camps at Terkimbi and Agbeda; this made us to report to the governor on the need to officially close down the camps. “We expect that the aff ected displaced persons move into town and put up with their relatives.”

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/05/yoruba-community-in-benue-urges-fg-to-check-insecurity-in-the-state/

Davido has finally spoken on why he has not recorded a song with ‘Starboy’ Wizkid.

The ’30BG’ crooner, who won big for his label at the 2018 Headies award, said a collaboration with Wizkid would not be planned but have to come naturally in order to have the best.

According to him, this would only happen when the time was right. Davido revealed this on Soundcity Fm.

He said: “On my collaboration with Wizkid, I feel like if it will happen, it will happen naturally.

“If we plan it, we might not do our best. Whenever the time is right, it will happen.”

On why his record label, Davido Music Worldwide (DMW) has no female presence he said: “If there was a female, we will be too overprotective.”

Davido at the just concluded 12th edition of the headies won three awards.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/05/davido-reveals-why-he-dont-have-any-collaboration-with-wizkid/

One time Peace Ambassador and the current face of Leadership Scorecard Nigeria, Queen Josephine Eleyi Igoche is dead.

According to her former pageant director Kingsley Amafibe , the young model-cum-beauty queen passed away in Kaduna on Monday May 7th after a brief ailment.

In 2016, Eleyi, who studied Political Science at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria won the Miss Ambassador for Peace North Central.

Confirming the sad news of her demise on social media, her young sister, Linda Igoche described her death as a 'rude shock'.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/05/sad-nigerian-beauty-queen-josephine-igoche-dies-in-kaduna-after-brief-illness/

Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, yesterday faulted the implementation of the anti-open grazing bill by the Benue State government on grounds that its lead to the recent killings in Benue.

South East zonal chairman of the association, Alhayi Idris Gidado in an interview said the Benue State Governor, Samuel Orton misfired by implanting the bill, saying that it was the cause of the long drawn crisis that has claimed many lives in the state.

“If I was consulted on the bill, I would have told the government that the approach is wrong. What they said is banning cattle grazing and establishment of cattle ranches in Benue State and not what government has done,” he said.

According to him, the bill is indirectly a measure to deal with the Fulanis, noting that whoever advised the Benue government on the bill is not a good adviser. While commiserating with the families whose relatives lost their lives in the Benue killings, Gidado reasoned that the crises could have been averted if the state government had not insisted on the implementation of the bill and evolved another subtle approach.

He said: “Both the farmers and the cattle leaders are suffering from the violent crisis in Benue state. The government as a matter of urgency should come out with a blue print that will put an end to the killings. The crisis can be resolved through dialogue. “Fulani herdsmen are seen as the killers in Benue because they are the people who were offended by that obnoxious bill.

Thousands of cattles have been confiscated by the government while hundreds of Fulanis have been killed in the crisis. “The Fulanis have no capacity to do what they are being accused of. If they have the capacity, they should have stopped the people who confiscated their cattle and those that killed their brothers.”

Gidado appealed to the Benue State government to carry out a proper investigation to find out the remote and immediate cause of the crisis in order to end the killings in the state.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/05/miyetti-allah-fault-implementation-of-anti-open-grazing-bill-by-gov-ortom/

The Senior Pastor at Worksword of God Church, Pastor Gabriel Adegboye, has claimed that God told him President Muhammadu Buhari has only four years to be Nigeria’s leader.

The cleric said this while addressing journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, over the weekend.

Adegboye also declared that God has revealed that he will take over power from Buhari in 2019.

Speaking alongside his Save Nigeria 2019 Movement, he stated he has the spiritual impartation of resolving the killings in the North-East and other parts of the country, as well as ensuring economic development in Nigeria.

He described Boko Haram as a spiritual attack on the country from North Africa.

“God sent me to become the next president of Nigeria. Over the years, God has been speaking to me and I have been communicating to past presidents, even the incumbent president, concerning the way to resolve the crisis in the country and ensure economic development. God has given me the new agenda for this country.

“We have all it takes to take the presidential seat come 2019. God has revealed to me that the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari is only four years. And the next person that will take over the mantle of leadership is Pastor Gabriel Adegboye.

“If the Federal Government needs solution to the challenges in the country today, if I am invited, I promise that within three months, there will be peace in the North-East,” Adegboye said.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/05/2019-election-pastor-adegboye-reveals-god-has-asked-him-to-replace-president-buhari/

Foremost Northern Nigeria’s Islamic group, the Jamaatu Nasril Islam (JNI), on Thursday called on all Nigerians to be more vigilant so as to stop enemies of peace engaged in senseless killings of innocent Nigerians.

The appeal is contained in a statement issued in Kaduna by Dr Khalid Abubakar, JNI Secretary General, over the recent bomb blasts in Mubi which killed over 60 Muslims.

The JNI noted that the continued killings in Benue, Borno, Kaduna, Nasarawa and Zamfara have become intolerable and must be brought to an end.

“It seems the security outfits in the area and the public have lowered their guards and relaxed, a situation taken advantage of by the insurgents.

“Therefore, there is obviously the need for continued vigilance especially by the members of the public, so as not to allow unscrupulous elements continue to wreck havoc in the society.

“It is also high time that the security agencies reappraise their mode of operations to meet up with dynamic challenges of criminality, as the criminals continue to change tactics.

“Government should move in with all seriousness and take definite position on criminals in all ramifications, and bring these gory incidences to a final end.

“We call on the public to intensify prayers and continuously seek Allah’s forgiveness to emancipate us from these recurring terrible situations.

“We should not relent in intensifying good deeds especially now that the month of Ramadan is fast approaching.’’

The JNI also expressed concern that “often when Muslims are attacked especially in mosques, nothing is heard or the story is downplayed entirely by the media.’’

It warned against politicizing the killings, as doing so would serve nobody any good.

“We commiserate with the people of Benue, Borno, Kaduna, Nasarawa and Zamfara states over the repeated loss of lives as a result of coordinated attacks by enemies of peace,’’ it added.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/05/islamic-group-blames-security-lapse-for-benue-mubi-other-attacks/

Justice I. A. Tyonyiman of Makurdi High Court, yesterday granted an ex parte motion brought before it by the Benue government against the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore and others over the killings in the state.

In the suit against Abdullahi Bello Bodejo; Huseini Yusuf Bosso; Saleh Alhasan; Alhaji Lagogi; Mallam Mumini Abdullahi; Mohammed Adamu and Ibrahim Sule; the government is seeking a redress pursuant to Section 185 (b) of the Criminal Procedure Code Cap 51 Laws of Benue State 2004.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Andrew Wombo, said the accused were being charged on eight counts, including mischief by fire, conspiracy, grievous hurt, arson, attempted murder, murder, among others.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the sitting, Wombo said they had instituted the criminal case against the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Kauttal Hore and some herdsmen for “instigating the murder of innocent citizens of the state between December 31, 2017 and January 1, this year in Guma and Logo local government areas.”

He continued “We are here in court to institute a criminal case against the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kauttal Hore and some Fulani herdsmen who instigated attacks on innocent civilians between December 31, 2017 and January 1, 2018 in Guma and Logo local government areas of Benue State.

“The court, presided over by Justice I. A. Tyonyiman, granted our application to charge them to court. By tomorrow, we will charge them to court. We are seeking for their conviction if they are found guilty. We are going to serve them with the charge and they will have to come to court to defend themselves.”

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/05/court-grants-request-to-dock-miyetti-allah-leaders-others-over-benue-killings/

The Benue State House of Assembly has suspended sitting for one week, and summoned Governor Samuel Ortom after another church in Logo Government Area, was reportedly attacked.

Seven persons were said to have been killed in the attack on Wednesday night, a day after 19 persons including two priests were killed at a Catholic church in Gwer East Local Government Area of the state.

The Assembly summoned the governor based on a motion moved by Mr Lanna Jato after the lawmaker representing Logo constituency, Kester Kyenge, told his colleagues that another church in his constituency was attacked. The police have yet to confirm the attack.

Based on the motion, the governor is to appear before the lawmakers on May 2 to brief them about the security situation.

Before debating the killings and resolving to summon Governor Ortom, the lawmakers held a minute of silence for those murdered in the attacks.

Some of the All Progressives Congress lawmakers, call for the boycott of the planned APC congresses in protest of what they described as the failure of the party and President Muhammadu Buhari to effectively check the criminal activities of herdsmen.

Hours after the attack and murder of the priest and worshippers at the Catholic church in Gwer East LGA, gunmen had struck a community in Guma LGA and killed 13 people before a third attack was said to have taken place at the church in Logo LGA on Wednesday night.

The continued killings have led to outrage across the country and the House of Representatives and the Senate have summoned President Buhari to brief lawmakers on the killings and what the Federal Government is doing to halt it.

Beyond that, the House of Representatives called for the sacking of the service chiefs for failing to secure the country against attacks and killings.

On Thursday, the National Economic Council weighed in on the killings and called for a ban on the movement of herdsmen in the five states affected the most – Benue, Taraba, Plateau, Kaduna, and Zamfara.

The NEC said the best way to rear cattle was through ranching and urged the affected states to provide land for ranching.

[url]https://www.benuepress.com/2018/04/benue-house-of-assembly-summons-governor-ortom-over-killings/[/url]

Immediate past Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, has condemned in strong terms the continued wanton killing of people in Benue State.

He therefore called on the federal government and all the security agencies to as a matter of urgency, set out to unravel the nature of the killings and fish out those involved.

Several persons have been recently killed in series of attacks orchestrated by suspected herdsmen in Logo, Guma and Gwer East LGAs of the state. Several persons and many were rendered homeless during the attacks.

The ex-minister in a statement on Thursday, affirmed that it was high time people of Benue rose up to defend their existence from these intruders.

His statement reads:

“It is very sad that when other communities in Nigeria are brazing up to the challenges of development, Benue people are burying scores of their own. It would appear that the intractable challenges of daily slaughtering of Benue sons and daughters have defied all permutations from Agatu to Guma, Logo, Buruku, Kwande, Vandekiya, et al.

“It has been one story of wow and wanton destruction of lives and properties. It is a norm world over that the protection of lives and properties is the primary aim of government.

“For close to a decade now, Benue people have been murdered in their numbers and both government and the citizenry are still at the loss as to who these marauding hoodlums are, what their motives are and the cause(s) of their mindless killing of Benue people.

“The worrisome dimension of the recent heartless daily killings has made it imperative that government should take urgent steps to initiate policies and set up appropriate machineries to address the mayhem that has been unleashed on the Benue people.

“The government must as a matter of urgency, set out to unravel the nature of the killings the people who are involved.

“Government immaterially should set up a comprehensive special committee made of critical stakeholders, the herdsmen, farmers, security agencies and government to oversee as superintend over the relationship between the herdsmen and farmers.

“The mandate of this committee is to engender a convivial environment for dialogue to continue to be held for all component of Benue State. Clashes must always be promptly investigated and concrete action taken by government to unravel all matter connected therewith.

“Government must assume responsibility of the protective of lives and properties of Benue people.

“We can no longer wish away the fact of the reality that we must accept to live together as one. Even then, we must urgently assemble all retired Benue armed forces personnel to offer solution on how to contain the situation. At this time, all hands must be on deck. Now that government has demonstrated helplessness, all citizens of Benue must stand up to defend our existence.”

Source:

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/04/benue-killings-enough-is-enough-its-time-to-defend-our-existence-abba-moro/