Public protests against the Fulani herdsmen killings in Makurdi .
Tag: Fulani herdsmen
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Police arrest four Fulani Herdsmen in Ondo
Police in Ondo State have arrested four Fulani herdsmen in Ido Ani community, Ose Local Government Area of the state over alleged abduction of a wife of a fellow Fulani man identified as Hadiza Saliu.
The suspects were also alleged to have earlier abducted a son of another Fulani herdsman in the community but the boy was said to have released after a ransom was paid by his father.
State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Femi Joseph said the suspects were arrested last Friday.
They are: Adamu Ibrahim, Muhammadu Haruna, Saliu Bawa and Bashir Ibrahim.
Joseph explained that the suspects had confessed to be part of the kidnapping gang who carried out their ‘operations’ at the Akoko area of the state in the recent time.
He said “One Mohammed Gambo came to report to us that the kidnappers abducted his son and he paid a sum of N200, 000 before the boy was released but he did not inform the police before making arrangement with the abductors, it was after the boy was released that he reported to us.
“The same persons abducted another women, Hadiza Saliu on December 13, 2017. As they were demanding ransom from the husband of the woman, the victim ran away. So after the victim had escaped the abductors started calling the husband to demand ransom.
“After reporting to us, we asked them to provide the money (ransom) and our men with some local vigilante groups laid ambush for the kidnappers who later came and pick up the money.”
The PPRO said one of the suspects; Adamu was arrested when he got out of the bush to pick up the money, adding that it was after his arrest that the police discovered that the same kidnap group was responsible for the abduction of the son of Gambo who had earlier reported to the police.
He said suspected Kidnappers confessed that most of the kidnapping incident that happened in the Akoko area were carried out by them, adding that they would soon appear in court.
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Four feared dead as suspected herdsmen invade Cross River community
Four suspected Fulani herdsmen are feared dead in a clash when they allegedly attempted to invade the Mbiabong Ito Community in Odukpani local government area of Cross River State.
A source in the area said the herdsmen in their numbers had attempted to enter the community with a large herd of cattle on Tuesday night, but were resisted by the community people.
According to the source, the herdsmen, who were armed, started shooting, but the community people did not back down and attacked them leading to the death of four of the cattle rearers.
It was gathered that the herdsmen retreated and returned with some soldiers to help them get back their cattle, which had scattered as a result of the clash.
According to the source the soldiers came in and were firing sporadically and the villagers had to flee their homes.
“The situation created panic and most of the villagers had to escape into the bush. Most of them are yet to return as we speak as they are afraid for their lives,” the source said.
Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo, said policemen had been deployed to the area and calm restored.
She did not confirm if it was a Fulani herdsmen invasion. She said they learnt of disturbances in the area and had to deploy men to ensure that there is calm.
She also did not confirm the fatalities.
“We have heard about it and right now we have sent men to the area and the area is calm. It is not a bad situation. There are men on ground to make sure nothing happens. We have not been able to confirm yet. That is what we heard,” she said.
She said she was going to get back to our reporter if she got confirmation but did not until press time.
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Kogi home to herdsmen – Bello
The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has assured Fulani herdsmen of his administration’s commitment to their welfare.
Bello during an emergency state security stakeholders’ meeting at the government house, Lokoja, on Wednesday, said Kogi State will not follow suit in the enactment of anti-grazing laws, as others, including Benue State, saying herdsmen were welcome in any part of Kogi.
He asserted that the herdsmen can call their kinsmen displaced in other places, to Kogi.
One of the traditional rulers in attendance, Chief Ahmed Aku, who was earlier kidnapped by suspected herdsmen, had advised the governor to tow in the footstep of Benue and Ekiti governors.
“I will not enact any law to stop Fulani herdsmen from coming to Kogi State. I will not be part of any law that will forbid them from carrying out their normal business in Kogi State.
“Why don’t we develop a law that will make us live together harmoniously and tap from our different economic values? “The next ‘oil’ this country is rediscovering now is agriculture. So if you don’t want anybody to disrupt the farms, I beseech you to also allow the Fulani carry out their businesses,” said Bello.
He directed the ministries to ensure that the Fulani were integrated into the traditional council area of all the local government areas of the state, saying, “There must, henceforth, be a representative of Fulani in the local traditional council.
“This must also be replicated at the area traditional council, while the secretary to the State Government must see that a Fulani representative is present at the state council.
“This will ensure that the Fulani are aware of, and are part of decision making in the state”.
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Herdsmen, farmers sign peace pact in Niger
Herdsmen and farmers in Mashegu Local government Area of Niger have signed a peace agreement to stop clashes among them.
Babayo said the aim of the meeting was to reconcile communities that were affected by farmers/herdsmen crisis in the area.
He said that the meeting was attended by Alhaji Bala Sai’du, Chairman, Mashegu Local Government, Alhaji Ardo Adamu, Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Niger, Fulani Herdsmen, Farmers, District Heads and community leaders from the area.
According to him, the meeting was to promote peace among farmers and herdsmen and to appeal to them to desist from grazing on farmlands to avoid clashes with farmers.
The director-general advised both parties to abide by the agreement and continue to respect the cultures of one another, tradition and means of livelihood.
He urged them to be law abiding and live in peace irrespective of ethnic, religious and political affiliations.
“Farmers and herdsmen should adopt alternative dispute resolution mechanism whenever there is a disagreement in order to avert the negative effects of crisis,’’ he said.
Babayo also urged them to report any suspicious persons to the appropriate authority.
He said this would enable the authority to interrogate the persons to know their mission in the state.
He also advised both farmers and herdsmen against blocking cattle routes and destroying farmlands so as to sustain the peace in the area and guarantee food security.
NAN
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Herdsmen predawn attacks: Plateau’s unending nightmare
The wee hours of September 8 will remain some of the darkest in Plateau State. That was the day gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen invaded Ancha village of Bassa Local Government Area of the state, killing 19 people. The victims were killed in their sleep. The death toll would have been more than that if other targets had not escaped. Many are in the hospital receiving medical attention for gunshot and machete wounds inflicted on them by the attackers.
The situation has thrown Bassa community and the entire state into another mourning mood.
The attack came when residents of the state had almost forgotten about the dark days of bloodshed in the state. The state could be said to have recovered fully from the era of crisis. The last time such attack was carried out in the state was 2014.
Governor Simon Lalong made it a priority to end conflicts in the state. Those conflicts, when they occurred, were always between Fulani herders and local farmers, and they were often concentrated in Berom communities comprising Jos South, Riyom, Barkin Ladi and part of Bokkos local government areas. In those areas, between 2010 and 2014 hundreds of residents lost their lives. The attack on Dogo Nahawa community, which produced the highest casualties of all the predawn attacks, is a case in point. Similar attacks were carried out in Jol, Rim, Foron, Hiepang, Gwarim, Kakik, Shonong, Bashi, Rafpen, Mase, Lua, Gwol, Tahol, Sopp, Jebbu, Kwaki, Gwarim, Gwom, and Torok, among others.
These attacks produced numerous mass graves. In one of those attacks in Mase village, sympathisers who were conducting a mass burial were also attacked. That was what led to the sudden death of a senator representing Plateau North senatorial zone at the National Assembly, Senator Gyang Dantong alongside his house of assembly counterpart, Hon. Gyang James DanFulani. They both ran out of gas while fleeing from their attackers. That was the peak of attacks in Berom communities.
Now the attacks seem to be shifting to the other side of Plateau North. The latest fresh attack on Ancha village lends credence to this.
The death of those 19 persons was said to be a reprisal for the death of one Fulani boy.
The Plateau State police command confirmed to newsmen that the attack in Bassa was a reprisal.
The police said, “We went to the village as soon as we got wind of the attack to see things ourselves. We discovered that people were killed during their sleep by suspected Fulani men. There were 19 people killed in the attack.
“This attack were said to have been a reprisal because a Fulani boy was reported killed earlier. As police, we have always cautioned residents not to take the law into their hands, this Fulani boy that was found dead without his head was alleged to have committed mischief, he was not reported to law enforcement agents, some people took laws into their hands and killed him, that was what must have led to this very attack. We followed the Fulani petition and arrested 5 suspects over the death of the Fulani boy, they have been in our custody.
“So we are still appealing to citizens not to ever take laws into their hands because information reaching us shows that this very attack was a reprisal over the death of the Fulani boy killed earlier”.
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Fulani herdsmen invade Ondo Varsity farms
The Vice Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, has urged security agencies to assist the institution in checking the illegal activities of Fulani herdsmen. He lamented that the herdsmen have formed the ‘undesirable’ habit of grazing their cattle on the university farm sites.
The VC spoke at a security forum organized by the Ondo State Police Command to interact with stakeholders including security agencies, heads of institutions, royal fathers, religious leaders, artisans, students, farmers, cattle rearers, hunters and other concerned persons and groups, in Akoko South West Local Government area of the State.
Ajibefun, who said the university has been managing the situation peacefully, however, expressed concern over the impunity with which the herdsmen’s cattle destroy the crops in the university’s demonstration farms. He lamented that all peaceful efforts to stop the wanton destruction of the university’s farmlands by grazing cattle failed.
“We are aware that the issue of security is very complex. And because we don’t want to make it more complex, we have been trying to manage our experience with Fulani herdsmen each time they intrude on our campus. It is a very bad situation the way they invade our farm and destroy the place. I would like to appeal to our security agencies to come to the aid of the University by finding a lasting solution to the problem,” he said.
The VC also thanked the security agencies, members of the university community and the host communities, for their cooperation towards sustaining the peace on campus.
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Suspected Fulani Herdsmen invade Falae’s Farm again
The Ilado farm of the Former Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF) Chief Olu Falae near Akure, the Ondo state capital was again Wednesday reportedly attacked by suspected hoodlums suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.
Sources said crops worth millions of Naira were destroyed in the process of grazing their cattle.
The Publicity Secretary of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin told reporters in Akure after the monthly meeting of the association, held at the residence of its leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti.
The Personal Assistant (PA) to Chief Falae, Captain Moshood Raji (rtd.) confirmed the incident, saying many crops were destroyed by the hoodlums.
According to him, it was the police escorts of the elder statesman who shot sporadically into the air that sent the herdsmen out of the farm.
He said they attacked Falae’s farm and destroyed the crops,adding that they had immediately reported the incident to the police.
Odumakin,in a communique he read after the meeting accused the Federal Government of showing no concern at the incessant attacks of the Fulani herdsmen on the people of the South-West and Middle-Belt.
He expressed worry over the renewed onslaught of Fulani herdsmen in Yoruba land.
His words “ Recently, a Permanent Secretary of Osun origin, Mrs. Funke Kolawole was killed on Okene-Lokoja road on her way to Abuja.
“Also, another 72-year-old woman was recently gang-raped in Odigbo area of Ondo State and the hoodlums are yet to be brought to book and of course Chief Olu Falaye whose farm has become a source of attacks by the Fulani herdsmen.
It urged the governors in the South-West to emulate the Ekiti State Government, stressing that they should put in place appropriate laws to deal with the activities of the herdsmen in the region.
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Fulani herdsmen threaten to sue governor
FULANI herdsmen, under the aegis of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBA), yesterday threatened to sue Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose for making disparaging and uncomplimentary statements on President Muhammadu Buhari’s health.
Its National Coordinator, Alhaji Garus Gololo, addressed reporters in Makurdi, Benue State capital.
He said the governor must tender an “unreserved apology” to Nigerians and the President, if he did not want Fulani herdsmen to take legal action against him.
Gololo said Fayose abandoned his constitutional duty of providing good governance to his people but attacked President Buhari in his hospital bed.
He said: “We in MACBA have met at our level here and resolved that the Ekiti State governor should publicly apologise to Nigeria’s President, whom he has mocked and made several comments that he is not morally and professionally supposed to have made against.
“We know that while other Nigerians were praying for PMB’s quick recovery, Fayose was praying for Mr. President to die. He even asked people to address him (Fayose) as the next President of Nigeria while President Buhari is still alive. But thank God, President Buhari did not die.
“So, our President is back in the country to continue with the good governance of Nigeria. It is now our turn to ask Fayose to apologise or we will go after him legally.”
Gololo noted that those who said the President had died must have seen him alive addressing Nigerians.
The coordinator however welcomed the President back home and reminded him of the need to be focused on the fight against corruption and securing Nigeria from the hands he described as enemies of progress who do not mean well for this country.
Gololo also sympathizes with the Benue State governor, the government and people of the state over the killing of the principal special assistant to the governor on Knowledge economy and investments, Dr. Tavershima Adyorough.
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Kogi preach harmony between farmers, herdsmen
The Kogi State government has urged Fulani herdsmen in state have to live in peace with their host communities for the overall development of the state.
The state Commissioner of Agriculture, Mr. Kehinde Oloruntoba made this call when some executive members of the state chapter of the Myetti Allah visited him in his office.
The commissioner who bemoaned the incessant crisis between the herdsmen and farmers in parts of the state called on the association to educate their members on the need to live in harmony with their host communities.
He noted that the relationship between the farmers and the herdsmen should be symbiotic, as the one cannot live independent of the other, saying that while the herdsmen cannot live without food produced by the farmers, the later too need the meat for protein.
According to him: “If farmers and herdsmen understand that they need each other to survive, they would have no option than to live in peace”.
He said that the state government was working out a modality to resolve farmers’ and herdsmen crisis in the state, adding that all stakeholders in the agriculture subsector, not excluding traditional rulers, would be involved in the quest to restore peace to communities being ravaged by farmers/ herdsmen crisis.
The state chairman of Myetti Allah Association, Alhaji Umaru Jaido stated that the Fulani herdsmen in the state would abide by the resolution of the meeting held in Abuja to broker peace between them and the farmers.
He called on farmers to report damages by herdsmen on their farms to the association for compensation rather than resort to violence. This, he said would help in reducing the crisis to the barest minimum.