Fulani herdsman armed with a Kalashnikov
An advocacy group, the CACLD International has expressed grief over the relentless killings by Fulani herdsmen in parts of Nigeria, the latest being in Benue State. In a release made available to Africanewscircle, the group also proferred what it felt, are the solutions to the spate of killings of usually unarmed natives by the marauding and heavily armed herdsmen.
But in a widely publicized press statement on Saturday, the Fulani Nationality Movement, (FUNAM) which met in Kano, said nothing short of the establishment of what it called the “Cattle Colony” across Nigeria will stop the violence involving its members around the country.
The CACLD release read:
“Today we join the people of Benue to mourn the unwarranted murder of their Men, women and children by terrorists who invaded their lands. We pray that the Lord would console the families who lost their loved ones. Our condolences go to the Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State and all the peoples of the Middle belt. Our prayer is that they stay strong in defense of justice for all as they grapple with the unique challenges of Nigeria.
In the first quarter of 2016, CACLD International (then known as Chinua Achebe Center for Leadership and Development) did an extensive research into the problem of open grazing in Nigeria, the owners of the Herds and the Modus Operandi of the Herdsmen. The CACLD International published its findings and made the following recommendations as the peaceful solution to the problem:
“ban open grazing, establish ranches for the cattle in the north, pay the southerners to harvest grass and send to the north. With this, everyone would be pleased with the outcome. This solution is expected to generate 1 million jobs in the South and about 500,000 jobs in the North”
This extensive research showed that any attempt by the Government to cease people’s lands and give it to the herdsmen for open grazing might lead to a civil war.”
The group said it stands by the outcome of its research and call on the Nigerian Government to heed to its recommendation because it reflects the best practices around the world. The organization restated its commitment to Human Rights, Good Governance and inter-ethnic peace adding that it is fully committed to the promotion and protection of the freedoms and Rights of all indigenous peoples to life and property.
However, the FUNAM in its statement signed by Badu Salisu Ahmadu and Umar Amir Shehu after the group’s meeting in Kano, gave what it said, was a summary of its views on the raging crises:
“The Fulani Nationality Movement, (FUNAM) after extensive deliberations on the state of the nation in the context of the recent killings and national uproar, met today in Kano, the capital of Kano State. Among other things, the FUNAM deliberated on attacks on cattles by rustlers, kidnap of Fulani men and women in some parts of Nigeria, displacement of Fulani traditional settlements in Northern Nigeria and some parts of Southern Nigeria, stealing of properties belonging to Fulani cattler owners amongst other issues. The group also deliberated on the political situation in Nigeria occassioned by the irresponsible calls for restructuring of Nigeria, the historic and vicious attacks on Fulani people by Southern nationalities and their cohorts in the middle belt, the plot to ensure Fulani are pushed to the backbench in the power equation in Nigeria and above all, the vicious campaign against the God ordained place of Fulani as the leading star guide in Nigeria, and after extensive deliberations, we hereby make the following declarations:
a) That the killings in Benue of Tiv is well deserved. It was a revenge attack on the series of onslaught on the Fulani which was most horrendous on November 17 2017 when 30 Fulani men and women were killed in Nasarawa State. We notice the recalcitrant culture of the Tiv people as demonstrated even during the 1804 Jihad when they obstructed our ordained conquest of Nigeria.
b) We condemn the media propaganda being waged against the Fulani and supported by Yoruba, Igbo and their bigotry allies in the Middle Belt.
c) That we are aware of plots by the minority ethnic groups in the Middle Belt to attack Fulani settlements.
d) That we have asked all Fulani across West Africa to raise money and arms to prosecute the oncoming war. We call on all Fulanis to prepare for this Holy War. There is no going back. All over the world, Nigeria is the only country given to Fulani by God.
e) We oppose the anti-grazing laws which obstruct the ability of Fulani to move freely and stay anywhere in Nigeria. The Fulani, if not for the British would have actually conquered the entire Nigeria which God has ordained as our dominion.
f) That the Cattle Colony is the only solution to the crisis. Whether the Federal Government or State Governments accept or not, we have asked all Fulani herdmen all over West Africa to move to Nigeria and penetrate every corner for the upcoming Jihad. We have asked them to be armed since it seems it is the only language Nigeria understands. The Nigerian Government has failed to protect us.
g) We warn those who oppose the Fulani cattle trade to be cautious of the consequences. We are ready for the worse. We are prepared for war. There is hope for peace if and only if attacks on Fulani herdsmen stop and the Fulani is allowed to settle anywhere that the Fulani chose to settle in Nigeria. We are Nigerians and are free to settle anywhere we desire with our culture, our families, our commerce and our values to the glory of Almighty Allah. Any attempt(s) to reverse these demands will be met with Holy Uprising never before seen in the History of Nigeria and in the scale compared only with the 1804 Jihad. A word is enough for the wise. The Fulani is capable of defending itself. “
TIMELINE OF ATTACKS ON BENUE STATE FROM 2013 – 2018
1. February 2013 Fulani Attacked Agatu burning Inoli, Ologba, olegeje, olegogboche, olegede, Adana, Inminy and Abugbe communities. Many lives lost.
2. April 23 2013.
10 farmers killed in an attack on Mbasenge community in Guma LGA by suspected herdsmen.
3. May 7, 2013.
47 mourners gunned down in Agatu while burying two policemen killed the Tuesday before in Nassarawa.
4. May 14, 2013.
Over 200 herdsmen surround Ekwo-Okpanchenyi, Agatu LGA killing 40 locals.
5. July 5, 2013.
20 people were killed in a “conflict” between Tiv farmers & herdsmen at Nzorov,Guma LGA, Benue state.
6. July 31 2013
herdsmen invade 2 villages in Agatu LGA killing 8 villagers allegedly in retaliation for the killing of 112 cows
7. November 7, 2013.
Attackers strike at Ikpele & Okpopolo communities killing 7 and displacing over 6000 inhabitants.
8. Nov 9, 2013.
36 locals killed and 7 villages overrun in an attack by herdsmen on locals in Agatu LGA.
9. Nov 20, 2013.
Attack on communities in Guma LGA, killing 22 locals and destroying properties worth millions of naira.
10. Jan 20 2014.
Gunmen attack Agatu LGA, killing 5 soldiers and 7 civilians.
11. Jan 20, 2014.
Attack on Adeke village. 3 dead.
12. 20-21 Feb 2014.
Herdsmen attack Gwer West LGA. 35 persons killed. 80,000 displaced. 6 Council Wards Sacked.
13. Feb 24, 2014.
Attack on a Tiv community along Naka road, Makurdi, killing 8 people.
14. March 6, 2014.
30 killed in Kwande, Katsina/Ala and Logo LGAs by attackers dressed in military uniforms. 6 villages sacked.
15. March 12, 2014.
Raid on Ukpam village of Mbabaai in Guma LGA. 28 persons killed. Yam barns and farms burnt.
16. March 10, 2014.
Former Governor Suswam’s convoy attacked by herdsmen at Umenger. He and convoy manage an escape.
17. March 12, 2014.
Herdsmen attack Suswam’s village in Logo LGA. 22 slaughtered. Entire village sacked.
18. March 23, 2014.
25 killed and over 50 injured by herdsmen said to be bearing sophisticated weapons in Gbajimba, Guma LGA.
19. March 25, 2014.
Police recover 7 corpses following an attack on Agena village by Herdsmen.
20. March 29, 2014.
Herdsmen attack 4 villages in Agatu LGA. 19 people killed, 15 others abducted.
21. March 29, 2014.
Suspected use of chemical weapons on Shengev community in Gwer West LGA leaving 15 people dead.
22. March 30, 2014.
19 locals killed and 15 abducted in Agatu LGA.
23. April 10, 2014.
Over 100 herdsmen attacked 4 villages in Ukemberaga/Tswarev ward of Logo LG, 6 killed,Properties lost.
24. April 15, 2014.
Attack on Obagaji, Headquarters of Agatu LGA, 12 youths killed.
25. September 10, 2014.
Herdsmen attacked five villages in Ogbadibo LGA leaving scores dead.
26. January 27, 2015.
17 persons killed in attacks on Abugbe, Okoklo, Ogwule & Ocholoyan in Agatu LGA by herdsmen.
27. January 30, 2015.
Over 100 attackers stormed 5 villages in Logo LGA, killing 9 persons in the attack.
28. March 15, 2015.
Egba village in Agatu LGA sacked by herdsmen,over 90 locals, including women and children killed.
29. April 27, 2015.
28 persons killed by herdsmen in attack on 3 villages at Mbadwem, Guma LGA; houses and farmlands razed.
30. May 11, 2015.
Ikyoawen community in Turan Kwande LGA invaded by herdsmen. 5 persons killed & 8 others wounded.
31. May 24, 2015.
100 killed in an attack by herdsmen in villages &refugee camps at Ukura, Gafa, Per and Tse-Gusa, Logo LGA.
32. July 7, 2015.
1 local killed and several others injured following an attack on mourners in Imande Bebeshi in Kwande LGA.
33. November 5, 2015.
12 persons killed, 25 others injured in Buruku LGA following an attack by suspected herdsmen.
34. Feb 8, 2016.
10 killed and over 300 displaced in clash between herdsmen and farmers at Tor-Anyiin and Tor-Ataan in Buruku LGA.
35. Feb 21-24, 2016.
Over 500 locals killed and 7000 displaced in an attack on Agatu LGA by fulani herdsmen. Over 7 villages razed.
36. March 9, 2016.
8 residents killed by herdsmen in attacks on Ngorukgan, Tse Chia, Deghkia and Nhumbe in Logo LGA.
37. March 11, 2016.
Attack on Convoy of Senator David Mark by suspected herdsmen in Agatu LGA. No casualty recorded.
38. March 13, 2016.
6 people including an APC youth leader killed by herdsmen in an attack on Tarkaa LGA.
39. February 29, 2016
11 killed in Edugbeho Agatu LG including a police inspector.
40. March 10, 2016
Two killed in attack on Obagaji Agatu.
41. March 5, 2016
Houses burnt in Agatu. Security forces prevented killings.
42. January 24, 2017:
15 persons were killed by rampaging Fulani herdsmen, who attacked farmers in Ipiga village in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State.
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43. March 2, 2017: No fewer than 10 persons were killed in a renewed hostility between herdsmen and farmers in Mbahimin community, Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State.
44. March 11, 2017: Seven people were killed when herdsmen attacked a Tiv community, Mkgovur village in Buruku local government area of Benue State.
45. May 8: Three persons were confirmed killed by herdsmen in Tse-Akaa village, Ugondo Mbamar District of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.
46. May 13, 2017: Less than one week after many people were killed by herdsmen in three communities of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, armed herders struck again on May 13 killing eight more people.
47. December 31, 2017 and January 2, 2018: 50 persons including nine members of the Benue State Livestock Guards have been killed in fresh attacks on Benue communities by suspected Fulani herdsmen after they invaded Gaambe-Tiev, Ayilamo and Turan all in Logo LGA as well as Umenger, Tse-Akor and Tomatar near Tse-Abi in Nongov District of Guma LGA.
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