₦airaland Forum

On the 25th of Feb 2016, the World was thrown into shock by the Carnage meted out to some communities in Agatu LGA of Benue state by Fulani Herdsmen over grazing rights. The resulting outcry fuelled by the impunity of the attackers, silence by the authorities and inaction of the security operatives prompted a peaceful protest by Nigerians on the 2nd March 2016 from the Justice Ministry through the Defence Headquarters to the grounds of the national assembly to demand Federal action.
Various Advocacy groups sprang up and existing houses screamed themselves hoarse trying to outdo themselves at keeping the plight of the victims fresh in the minds of Nigerians. Donation centers were established and Idoma people from all over the world sent help in whatever form they could while sustaining pressure on the authorities to stop the carnage. By then, whole communities like Odugbeho, Aila, Okokolo,Adagbo, Ugboku and Akwu have been razed down completely and emptied of their inhabitants thus creating a huge humanitarian disaster in neighboring communities in Apa, Adoka and Otukpo LGAs as Govt. tried to cope.
While many advocacy groups concentrated on the destruction and the politics behind the perennial bloodbath that have come to characterize this herdsmen and their hosts, I have to concentrate on the survivors, their challenges and those of their hosts, their dreams, hopes, desires and their pains. Thus I decided to visit the victims in their natural environment under the auspices of the Adiuva Nobis Mission-A largely self-sponsored volunteer medical outreach programme which sought to achieve the following:
- Assess the Health Status of the victims in view of solving their immediate, short and medium term health needs as far as available resources and time permit.
- Strengthen the Capacity of the Primary Health Care centers catering to them by donating Relief Medical Items to them and exchanging ideas on how to cope with existing challenges and those that may arise.
- Interact closely with the victims to know their problems on a first hand basis with the aim of providing free advice to Relief donors on what kind of help is needed the most.

What seemed like a easy ride from onset took another dimension when letters written and calls made to about 15 Pharmaceutical Companies and Government agencies for Donations of Drugs and other medical supplies were unanswered making me resort to myself, close friends and family for help, and these didn’t disappoint. Drugs were sourced from the Open Market with the help of Pharm. Uchenna Nwosu who made sure we got a good bargain. I must also mention Mr Austin Iwuoha, a Pharmaceutical Representativebased in the FCT who gave us a generous quantity of Paediatric Drug formulations from his modest stock. With these, a team of volunteers was constituted comprising the following:
-Dr Chinedu Chukwu, A Medical Personnel and Humanitarian based in Abuja.
-Mr Haruna Joel- A Laboratory Technician with St Mary’s Hospital Okpoga, who coincidentally happens to be an Agatu indigene. His Advice, interpretation skills and local knowledge of the terrain proved indispensable to the mission.
-Mr Emma Ojakwu Owoicho-A Pharmacology Lecturer at the John Adah School of Health, Oturkpo, who’s dispensing skills came in handy.
-Mr Edoh Alo, an excellent Guide, Photographer and Planner.
Our Journey began from the Palace of the Ochi’idoma in Oturkpo where we were referred to the Catholic Diocese of Oturkpo ,said to be coordinating the relief efforts in conjunction with Agencies of Govt through a committee led by Rev Fr Attah- A clean shaven, well-built indefatigable middle aged man whose personal strength, and tenacity intrigued me. He made me aware of the presence of the Governmentt approved IDP camps in Ugbokpo, Ojantelle and Attanganyi-all border towns with Agatu LGA holding about 75% of the total population displaced. His strength of character is visible in the superb organization witnessed in these camps. We met with the Health Sub-Committee of the IDP Camps which include men and women of good nature and commendable experience drawn from the LGA Health Department, NEMA etc. Allow me to mention their names as they stand the risk of losing their efforts to obscurity due to the remoteness of their location and lack of numerous write-ups such as this to highlight their work.
-Mrs Margareth Owoicho-A Registered Nurse and Matron, Deputy H.O.D Health –Apa LGA
-Mr Okoh Edwin-Deputy H.O.D Health-Agatu L.G.A
-Mr Eddy James-NEMA Desk Officer, Agatu L.G.A
After due consultations and visits to other unofficial IDP camps in Otukpo, Agatu, and Adoka L.G.A, we decided to settle for the trio of Ugbokpo, Ojantelle and Attanganyi using a selection criteria based on the number of vulnerable Individuals(women, aged and children) in each camp, remoteness from help, proximity to the conflict zone and direness of camp conditions. After muc

4. Leaders of tomorrow
5. Found my own Jumoke
6. IDPs at Attaganyi camp
7.Volunteers for the Adiuva Nobis Mission

8.Heavily Pregnant woman planning to deliver at the IDP camp in Ugbokpo.
9.Old Woman who sustained a fracture during her flight from Okokolo 2days before.
10. Attending to a Child with Diarrhoea
11. Teaching the women how to constitute ORS

Aluh, I am so touched and proud of u. Great things await u and ur ministry. Amen.

IdomaLikita:
Story of 3 Villages- My Agatu IDPs Experience.
On the 25th of Feb 2016, the World was thrown into shock by the Carnage meted out to some communities in Agatu LGA of Benue state by Fulani Herdsmen over grazing rights. The resulting outcry fuelled by the impunity of the attackers, silence by the authorities and inaction of the security operatives prompted a peaceful protest by Nigerians on the 2nd March 2016 from the Justice Ministry through the Defence Headquarters to the grounds of the national assembly to demand Federal action.
Various Advocacy groups sprang up and existing houses screamed themselves hoarse trying outdoing themselves in the act of keeping the plight of the victims fresh in the minds of Nigerians. Donation centers were established and Idoma people from all over the world sent help in whatever form they could while sustaining pressure on the authorities to stop the carnage. By then, whole communities like Odugbeho, Aila, Okokolo,Adagbo, Ugboku and Akwu have been razed down completely and emptied of their inhabitants thus creating a huge humanitarian disaster in neighboring communities in Apa, Adoka and Otukpo LGAs as Govt. tried to cope.
While many advocacy groups concentrated on the destruction and the politics behind the perennial bloodbath that have come to characterize this herdsmen and their hosts, I have to concentrate on the survivors, their challenges and those of their hosts, their dreams, hopes, desires and their pains. Thus I decided to visit the victims in their natural environment under the auspices of the Adiuva Nobis Mission-A largely self-sponsored volunteer medical outreach programme which sought to achieve the following:
- Assess the Health Status of the victims in view of solving their immediate, short and medium term health needs as far as available resources and time permit.
- Strengthen the Capacity of the Primary Health Care centers catering to them by donating Relief Medical Items to them and exchanging ideas on how to cope with existing challenges and those that may arise.
- Interact closely with the victims to know their problems on a first hand basis with the aim of providing free advice to Relief donors on what kind of help is needed the most.

What seemed like a easy ride from onset took another dimension when letters written and calls made to about 15 Pharmaceutical Companies and Government agencies for Donations of Drugs and other medical supplies were unanswered making me resort to myself, close friends and family for help, and these didn’t disappoint. Drugs were sourced from the Open Market with the help of Pharm. Uchenna Nwosu who made sure we got a good bargain. I must also mention Mr Austin Iwuoha, a Pharmaceutical Representativebased in the FCT who gave us a generous quantity of Paediatric Drug formulations from his modest stock. With these, a team of volunteers was constituted comprising the following:
-Dr Chinedu Chukwu, A Medical Personnel and Humanitarian based in Abuja.
-Mr Haruna Joel- A Laboratory Technician with St Mary’s Hospital Okpoga, who coincidentally happens to be an Agatu indigene. His Advice, interpretation skills and local knowledge of the terrain proved indispensable to the mission.
-Mr Emma Ojakwu Owoicho-A Pharmacology Lecturer at the John Adah School of Health, Oturkpo, who’s dispensing skills came in handy.
-Mr Edoh Alo, an excellent Guide, Photographer and Planner.
Our Journey began from the Palace of the Ochi’idoma in Oturkpo where we were referred to the Catholic Diocese of Oturkpo ,said to be coordinating the relief efforts in conjunction with Agencies of Govt through a committee led by Rev Fr Attah- A clean shaven, well-built indefatigable middle aged man whose personal strength, and tenacity intrigued me. He made me aware of the presence of the Governmentt approved IDP camps in Ugbokpo, Ojantelle and Attanganyi-all border towns with Agatu LGA holding about 75% of the total population displaced. His strength of character is visible in the superb organization witnessed in these camps. We met with the Health Sub-Committee of the IDP Camps which include men and women of good nature and commendable experience drawn from the LGA Health Department, NEMA etc. Allow me to mention their names as they stand the risk of losing their efforts to obscurity due to the remoteness of their location and lack of numerous write-ups such as this to highlight their work.
-Mrs Margareth Owoicho-A Registered Nurse and Matron, Deputy H.O.D Health –Apa LGA
-Mr Okoh Edwin-Deputy H.O.D Health-Agatu L.G.A
-Mr Eddy James-NEMA Desk Officer, Agatu L.G.A
After due consultations and visits to other unofficial IDP camps in Otukpo, Agatu, and Adoka L.G.A, we decided to settle for the trio of Ugbokpo, Ojantelle and Attanganyi using a selection criteria based on the number of vulnerable Individuals(women, aged and children) in each camp, remoteness from help, proximity to the conflict zone and direness of camp conditions. After much delay, on the 19th of March 2016, we hauled our relief supplies to Apa LGA and set up camp one after the other in all 3 IDP camps running Outpatient clinics, Dispensing as appropriate, Interacting with the IDPs, Inspecting Sanitary conditions and making careful observations for the purpose of this report.


Presenting Medical Supplies to the IDP Camp Health Subcommittee(pix)



UGBOKPO IDP CAMP
This Camp is the Largest of the 3 Camps holding about 400 IDPs during Peak periods. It is located at Ugbokpo Primary school. The Conditions are most pitiable despite the efforts of the Camp coordinators. The dilapidated Classrooms of this School host various Families comprising mostly women and children. Diseases of Overpopulation and poor sanitary conditions were rife during our visit. Diarrhoea was rampant among the children and two mortalities had already been recorded before our coming.
There is no Toilet here and open defecation by the IDPs has rendered swathes of land around the camp an eyesore. This is dangerous considering that the source of Drinking water is a Pond on a dry river bed littered by faeculent matter. An epidemiologist is not needed to associate the squalid conditions of this camp with the prevalence of diarrhoeal diseases in the camp. Luckily enough, someone donated a modest cache of ORS and Zinc tablets the day before our arrival, and we did justice to them, teaching them how to constitute and administer this lifesaver. We pray the sunken tearless eyes and depressed fontanelles have become more supple by now. With the approaching rains and the ever present possibility of washing faeces into their Water source, an epidemic may be looming. Hence as a matter of urgency, UGBOKPO IDP CAMP NEEDS A WATER TANK AND A TEMPORARY LATRINE. Mass vaccinations are also needed because cases of measles among the children reached questionable proportions during our visit. The shootings are over, but the rains are coming. Indeed, the Vultures are cycling!









Residents of Ugbokpo IDP camp queuing for Medicines.(pix)








Widow who lost Husband to the crisis(pix)

OJANTELLE IDP CAMP
This is situated about a Kilometer from the Ugbokpo Camp, it is situated in the Government primary school in Ojantelle, just opposite the Chief’s house. The people of Ojantelle are superb. They have absorbed about 60% of their Guests and integrated them into their tiny community. They sleep together, go to the farm together and their children go to fetch firewood and water together. Yes water! Ojantelle’s Curse! The source of water in this community is pitiable. In fact, it debases their humanity and destroys every pride left in them. They rely on digging small holes into dry rivulet beds and waiting for water to accumulate before scooping , then dig some more and scoop until your hands get sore enough to convince you you’ve got enough water. Surprisingly, Diarrhoeal cases aren’t rampant. Maybe because their integration into the community boosted their hygienic standards since they have probably adopted the laws of their host regarding hygiene and their small number does not strain the environment of the hosts. They need clean water! If not for anything, for the dignity of their humanity.

Holes for extracting water from the Rivulet Bed(pix)







Photoshoot with the leaders of tomorrow.(pix)





Eureka! Found my Jumoke too!(pix)


ATTAGANYI IDP CAMP
Attaganyi is the last village in Apa L.G.A before Agatu L.G.A. it sits snuggly on the border between the two LGAs. Attanganyi is my Gold Standard for measuring IDP centers in Benue. The Refugees are fully integrated into the Community making the Primary School merely a gathering centre for important events like this mission and others. The IDPs in Attaganyi make regular trips back to Agatu to assess damage and report on the movements of the herdsmen and activity of Soldiers sent to checkmate them.
Attaganyi has a 2000L Water Tank that serves the drinking needs of this village. As expected, not a single case of Diarrhoea was seen by us (though only the Health Sub-Committees records can objectively validate whether cases existed prior to our arrival or after our departure). Towing the line of the Turkish City that was nominated by its country for the 2016 Nobel prize because of her hospitality towards Syrian refugees, I wish to recommend the Leaders and people of Attaganyi for the National Awards. They are very fine people with good spirits and large hearts. Ironically, despite receiving the fewest quantity of medical supplies from us, they were the only that bought us Soft drinks for entertainment. Their hospitality despite their plight is quite touching.
We left Attaganyi feeling Happy and Proud.

IDPs in Attaganyi Camp(pix)

Conclusion
The Mission opened our eyes to certain things that Humanitarian Agencies and Donors may overlook. For Example, we incorporated the question of the “most pressing need” of each refugee into our clerking and discovered they all unanimously listed Roofing Sheets as the Numero Uno on the Wish List, suggesting they have bigger problems ahead when they return to Agatu to begin to rebuild their homes. So we expect to see Donors shifting attention from food items and medicare to Building materials and Farm Seedlings.
We also saw the importance of organization and hygiene in IDP camps and its outcome on morbidity and mortality despite not conducting a specific research to explore this further due to paucity of resources, hence we encourage donors to support research involving the IDPs with the view of contributing knowledge to the academic world on conflict and conflict resolution, and also establish the basis for Legal action against the Arsonists and Murderers who have committed these crimes. The chronicity of the Agatu Crisis has made it long overdue for independent research and the Idoma People must take the Gauntlet and do it themselves. We have heard of Niger Delta Communities hiring environmental specialists to investigate oil spills with the view of taking legal action against them, We mustn’t wait on some FG panel of enquiry to help count our losses.
The role of the Church in this Crisis remains ever glorious! They have mobilized relief materials for the IDPs from various parishes and branches all over Idomaland and beyond. Despite my indifference towards religious institutions in Africa, I must confess the Church swept me away with her co-ordination of the Relief distribution led by the young energetic priest.
While the Politicians politick, and the herdsmen Graze, we the Ordinary people of Idomaland should remember that little acts of kindness replicated by all, endure more than singular acts of Philanthropy by Rich donors. A tuber of yam goes a long way, so do old story books and used clothes for the kids, a bundle of Roofing sheet (at N12,000 per bundle) can restore a family but the best gift of all is peace. Bit by bit, Agatu will be rebuilt and a Proud people shall till her valleys and fish her rivers.



Volunteers for the Adiuva Nobis mission(pix)


Heavily Pregnant woman planning to deliver at the IDP Camp in Ugbokpo(pix)









Old woman who sustained a fracture during her flight from Okokolo 2 days ago(pix)


Written By
Dr Aluh Francis Owoicho(Jr)
A Medical practitioner and Social Activist based in Abuja.

I really do not get this. A stranger comes all the way from across the Sahara to drive you out of your lands...and then you become a refuge on your own land? I'd rather die!

Cursed be Luggard Cursed be the day he was born cursed be the brutish British.
Folks we are at war.

Nigeria is under attack.

Well done my brother, this is so sad. So they are now refugees in their ancestral land.

I find this interesting "Holes for extracting water from the Rivulet Bed" Do they drink it?

Quite sobering; what are the Politicians doing with all the money? Boreholes should be sunk as memorial to the presence of IDP camps in those communities by the State and Federal governments.

naijapips02:
I really do not get this. A stranger comes all the way from across the Sahara to drive you out of your lands...and then you become a refuge on your own land? I'd rather die!

And Die they have, my Brother..the men of Agatu have been resisting these herdsmen for decades ALONE. Attrition has taken it's toll on the male population ( killed or maimed In previous attacks). Combine it with the Entry of Brownings and RPGs into a traditional Danes gun, Pump action duel, and you have a defenceless Agatu. I feel, Idoma people have let them down. Youths should have been drafted from other Idoma L.GAs to replace losses same way their fulani enemies keeping pouring in from Chad, CAR etc to boost the fighting force of their Nassarawa based kinsmen.
A tribe relying on David Mark and politicians alone to solve her problems can never go far.

Pidggin:
Well done my brother, this is so sad. So they are now refugees in their ancestral land.

I find this interesting "Holes for extracting water from the Rivulet Bed" Do they drink it?

Yes ma'am, they drink it, bathe, wash, etc with it. Until the rains come, I'm afraid it may continue.

otokx:
Quite sobering; what are the Politicians doing with all the money? Boreholes should be sunk as memorial to the presence of IDP camps in those communities by the State and Federal governments.

My brother, the politicians have tried their best. Let ordinary people do theirs. Idoma land has plenty millionaires in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos, why are they not in the fray? Is OP is millionaire? Yet his widow's myth went a long way. So before we blame politicians, we should ask ourselves " when Agatu people came under attack, what will we tell our children we did when they ask us?"

IdomaLikita:
Yes ma'am, they drink it, bathe, wash, etc with it. Until the rains come, I'm afraid it may continue.

Lord have mercy,it's so terrible

The annoying part is that no one has been arrested and tried for Arson-despite the burnt out villages as evidence, no one has been tried for murder-despite the corpses littering the ground, no one has been tried for stealing, despite the presence of these armed men on Agatu land eating yams from the farms. No one has been charged for illegal possession of firearms, despite the fact that a Senator was shot at in the full glare of reporters,
Idoma people should sue the FG, Fulani Herdsmen(a recognised terror group in the world) and their Sponsors to the ICC for crimes against humanity and genocide. The evidence is everywhere hence indictment is sure.
Meanwhile, the reclamation of Agatu land shouldn't be left to them alone. It should be an Idoma cause. E
Also, the idea of leaving Tivs to fight alone must stop, Idomas must fight with Tivs to expect any sympathy from them. Benue has suffered too much in their hands.

I am lost for words..and their president deems it fit to send condolence messages to Europe when Nigerians are being massacred in hundreds, driven from their homes and forced to drink mud water? I am trying to rationalise the happenings in this country but I keep hitting a brick wall..

ojac1:
Aluh, I am so touched and proud of u. Great things await u and ur ministry. Amen.

Tnx mate

Melkizedek:
I am lost for words..and their president deems it fit to send condolence messages to Europe when Nigerians are being massacred in hundreds, driven from their homes and forced to drink mud water? I am trying to rationalise the happenings in this country but I keep hitting a brick wall..

What exactly doesn't defy logic in Nigeria?