The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Fulani

  • Three robbery suspects killed

    Three robbery suspects killed

    The police in Delta State have shot three robbery suspects, following a dawn raid on their hideout.

    Police spokesperson Tina Kalu identified the “robbers” as Fulani herdsmen.

    Kalu said the hoodlums were part of a gang terrorising motorists at the Isele-Azagba axis of the Onitsha-Benin Expressway.

    According to her, operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) working with local hunters received information of unusual movement in the forest linking Isele-Azagba/Ibusa and Ogwashi-Uku.

    She said while the police team was searching the forest, the hoodlums opened fire on the team.

    “The police engaged the criminals in a gunbattle, which resulted in the death of three suspects.

    Kalu said one of the robbers escaped with bullet wounds.

    One AK47 with rusty breach number, two live AK47 live ammunition, one locally made single barrel gun, one dagger, and one cutlass were recovered.

  • More action needed to tackle insurgency

    SIR: The year 2014 is set to be the bloodiest ever since the end of Nigerian civil war. The country faces daunting security challenges amidst enormous economic problems. From Borno to Yobe, Adamawa to Bauchi and Kano to the Federal Capital Territory, it has been a harvest of deaths by Boko Haram insurgents. Also from Benue to Taraba, Plateau to Nasarawa, Kaduna to Zamfara, Fulani herdsmen have continued to cut down many innocent lives particularly farmers most of whom have now abandoned their farms for safety.
    These are no easy times for the government and people of Nigeria. Even though the government and the security agencies have not been keeping quiet,  yet the twin agents of death continue their repulsive style of audacious attack on defenceless Nigerians.
    The federal government needs to do more than it is presently doing in its management of the security situation in the country. In as much as it is true that terrorism is becoming a global challenge, there is need for the government to demonstrate more decisiveness in its handling of the Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen’s insurgency.
    This is the time for the government of President Goodluck Jonathan to suspend all its campaign activities and rise up to the occasion by taking proactive measures that would outsmart the agents of death. We have had enough of bloodletting in the country. The porous borders in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa among others must be tackled to stem the influx of terrorist into the country.
    It should, however be emphasised that an effective public security cannot be obtained without the active involvement, participation and support of every segments of the society because security is the responsibility of all individuals, groups, communities, organizations and other units that constitute the society.
    • John Akevi,
    Gboko, Benue State.

  • Tiv won’t concede an inch of land for grazing reserves, says Torkula

    Tiv won’t concede an inch of land for grazing reserves, says Torkula

    The Tiv are in no mood to concede an inch of their land for cattle grazing by the Fulani, the paramount ruler of the Tiv, Dr. Alfred Akawe Torkula, has said.

    The Tor Tiv, who has lost hundreds of his people, mainly farmers, to armed attacks by nomadic Fulani herdsmen, said those who are coveting Tiv land should be ready to kill all Tiv as they would not readily give up their land.

    Dr. Torkula who doubles as Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council spoke in his palace in Gboko when the Tiv Professional Group (TPG) paid him a visit.

    He said that the Tiv had in the past given out part of their land for cattle grazing only for their magnanimity to be abused by the beneficiaries.

    He said those who are now pressurising them to give out more of their land for grazing do not mean well for the Tiv many of whom are farmers.

    He said many of his people have been killed by Fulani cattle breeders and that such breeders should be encouraged to acquire land for ranches and confine their cattle to such enclosures.

    He said: “I will not concede one inch of Tivland for grazing reserves or grazing routes. My subjects are farmers and they need the land to farm. In modern times, and globally, those investing in cattle acquire land for ranches. They then source for food for their cattle. This solves a lot of conflicts.

    “Farming is our occupation. We don’t even have enough land. Tiv lands in Taraba and Nasarawa are gradually being taken over. They still want us to give the little land we have left to farm for grazing. That is too much to ask. It is unacceptable.”

    The Tor Tiv also said his ancestral home that was sacked and razed by Fulani herdsmen remains occupied by the heavily armed invaders.

    “The corpses of our kiths and kin are decaying. No one can go and bury them because my ancestral home has been under Fulani occupation,” he said.

    He asked the security agencies to help his people regain control of their villages so that they can resume their normal living.

    The Tor Tiv also called for the resuscitation of the moribund Mzough U Tiv Association (MUT) to provide an avenue for all Tiv to share ideas and express themselves.

    Speaking on behalf of the Tiv Professional Group Dr. Zachariah Gundu said they are in support of the Tor Tiv’s position on grazing reserves.

    He said TPG is also against grazing reserves because it cannot be sustained.

    The group condemned the sustained killings in Benue State and tasked the security agencies to contain the crisis so Tiv farmers can go back to their farms.

  • 15 feared killed as Jukun, Fulani herdsmen clash

    The community of Jibu in Wukari, the country home of former Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya on Wednesday came under attack.

    Eye-witnesses said 15 persons were killed.

    Dozens of residents were wounded, after many houses were torched in what appeared like a retaliatory attack.

    As at press time, clouds of smoke and fire were still billowing in the atmosphere.

    Eye-witnesses said residents were fleeing the area, with many taking refuge in the bush. But children and the aged were trapped in the violence.

    “We don’t know their (children and the old) fate”, said one escapee who spoke to our correspondent but does not want his name in print.

    He said: “My aged uncle could not run; I left him behind.”

    Police spokesman Joseph Kwaji, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) gave the casualty figure at 10 adding that 20 houses were razed down.

    Kwaji said: “There was an attack by some Jukun people in a village called Jibu in Wukari.

    “It is a village inhabited by Hausa, Fulani, Tiv and Jukun people, and 10 persons were killed and 20 houses burnt down.”

    He said a detachment of military personnel and anti riot policemen were drafted to the area to maintain law and order.

    “The situation is under control,” he said.

    The attack is coming three days after Fulani assailants attacked Tundun-Wada, a Jukun settlement, killing six people and reducing the village to ashes.

    Fulani insurgents have also killed over 15 Tiv farmers in separate attacks in Gassol, Wukari, Ibi and Takum local government areas.

    A member of the State House of Assembly representing Wukari II constituency, Daniel Ishaya Gani blamed the violence on “nonchalant attitude on the part of the state government.”

    The lawmaker urged the federal government to deploy mobile policemen that would be on all-round-the-clock surveillance in Wukari to checkmate crime and crisis.

    Wukari Council Chairman, Manasseh M. Zando could not pick his call when The Nation rang him.

    But a senior staff of the council also confirmed the violence.

    He said: “Jibu village is burning now (Tuesday) and people have been killed but I don’t know the actual number of deaths.”

    The source added that some of the wounded persons were been treated at the General Hospital, Wukari.

  • Crack in Benue peace committee on Fulani -Tiv crisis

    A  traditional  ruler in  Benue, Chief Daniel Abomtse has described the Brig-Gen. Atom Kpera led Peace committee  on Tiv -Fulani crisis, as nothing but a waste of time and money.

    Chief Abomtse, also stated that Brig-Gen Atom Kpera lacked the capacity to solved the current Tiv -Fulani crisis because he knows noting about it, and the dynamics involved.

    Addressing news men in his Makurdi palace, Chief Abomtse, who has fled from Naka, the head quarters of  Gwer west local government area, affected by the Tiv-Fulani crisis lamented that the former military administrator is negotiating with a fraudulent fulani groups.

    Chief Abomtse, who was appointed on the peace committee by Governor Gabriel Suswam, said he warned the former Military Administrator of old Anambra and Benue during Gen. Muhammed Buhari regime ,Brig Gen Atom Kpera, was negotiating with fraudulent fulani group but he wont listen.

    ” I told him ( Atom Kpera) there has been change of leadership in Miyetta Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria(MACBAN), and he was negotiating peace with  fraudulent fulani group but rather than listen, he walked me out of the meeting.”

    The highly respected traditional ruler said, the  continued attacked on Tiv settlements in Logo and Gwer west local government areas is a clear sign that the Brig Gen Atom Kpera Benue Peace and Reconciliation Committee has failed and called on Governor Suswam to sacked the former military adminsitartor.

    Just 24 hours after Atom Kpera signed a purported peace pact to cease hostilities between Tiv and Fulani herdsmen, Tiv farmers were killed in Tombo ward and Gwer west local government, this confirmed that the committee negotiate with a fake Miyetta Allah group.

    He said one Alhaji Bedojo Bello, who Atom Kpera led Peace committee choses to negotiate the Tiv- Fulani crisis is not the President of MACBAN, but a sprinter group.

    He added that Allhaji Muhammadu Kirowa( Ardo Zuru), is the current president of MACBAN,recognized by Sultan of Sokoto, Lamido of Adamawa, Emir of Kano and that of Gwandu.

    He carpeted  the Nassaraw state governor, Tanko Al’Makura for his comment that those killed by soldiers in Keana were not insurgents but herds men at a funeral.

  • Fulani herdsmen kill six, injure 14 in Taraba

    Fulani herdsmen have attacked three Tiv and Jukun villages in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State, killing six and injuring 14 people at the weekend.
    There were other attacks in Gassol, Takum and Donga communities, according sources.
    In the latest offensive, Fulani marauders attacked and reduced the entire Tundun-Wada, a Jukun settlement to ashes.
    Scores were also feared killed in the broad-day attack, eye-witnesses said.
    A member of the Taraba State House of Assembly representing Wukari II constituency, Hon. Daniel Ishaya Gani said the victims are Tiv and Jukun farmers.
    He described the violence as “very unfortunate”, saying the attackers are Fulani, with mercenaries among them.
    Gani who spoke to The Nation Saturday gave the casualty figure as six, but sources said at least 10 people were massacred while their bodies may be laying in the bush.

  • Fulani herdsmen incursion raises fear in Cross River

    The chairman of Ogoja local government council in Cross River State, Rita Agbo Ayim, has raised fears over the incursion of some Fulani herdsmen from neighbouring Benue state to the area.

    In a meeting with the Hausa/Fulani community living in Igoli-Ogoja, she said the herdsmen’s relocation to the area posed a security challenge.

    She appealed to the community through its head, Alhaji Adamu Asaba, to help talk with the herdsmen to move from the area to another place.

    She said their presence was giving the people of the area sleepless nights because of their recent actions in other places.

    “More than five thousand cattle have been shifted to Ogoja and the community is not happy over the development, and the Fulani herdsmen is danger to the people.

    “You should as a matter of urgency talk to the Fulani cattle rearers to relocate as there is no space in Ogoja to accommodate them,” she said.

    The chairman used the opportunity to thank the Hausa community for the support she has enjoyed from and reassured them of her government readiness to carry everybody along.

    Alhaji Yakubu Adamu, appreciated the chairman for coming to address them over the issue of the Fulani herdsmen before taking an action.

    He assured the chairman that they will do everything possible to make sure the cattle rearers return to where they came from.

    He said they have enjoyed peace throughout their stay in Ogoja and will want nothing to spoil their relationship with the community.

  • Oyo warns farmers, Fulani herdsmen against revenge

    The government of Oyo State yesterday warned farmers and herdsmen in Oke-Ogun against taking the laws into their hands. This followed incessant clashes between the parties.

    In cases of any grievances from any of the two parties, the state government urged them to report such to their local government area authorities and law enforcement agents.

    This warning was given by the Special Adviser (SA) to the governor on Security, Mr Segun Abolarinwa as contained in an eight points communique issued at the end of stakeholders meeting between farmers and fulani herdsmen in the state, held yesterday at the Western Hall Parliamentary Building, Secretariat, Ibadan.

    The communique which, was jointly signed by Abolarinwa, Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Chief Akintola and Chairman, Cattle Breeders Associations of Nigeria (CBAN), Alhaji Myetti Allah, also called for the regulation of fulani cattle rearers and their cattle for proper identification.

    According to him, it is disheartening that when we noticed the clashes, we called for a stakeholders meeting on the 24th of September last year and had a resolution at the end of the meeting but the resolutions were not implemented.

  • Attack on Middle Belt communities by ‘Fulani’, a vengeance by North, says group

    Attack on Middle Belt communities by ‘Fulani’, a vengeance by North, says group

    The Middle Belt Dialogue (MBD) yesterday reviewed the attacks on its communities by supposedly Fulani herdsmen and accused the North of carrying out a vengeance on the zone over its loss of power to a southerner in the 2011 presidential election.

    In a statement by Aminu Zang, for the MBD secretariat, the group claimed to have come to the conclusion that its “people are being punished for asserting their right to make free choice”.

    It claimed to have heard from a leading Fulani analyst that the ‘North’ would not forgive the middle belt for taking sides with President Goodluck Jonathan, a southerner, to defeat General Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, in the 2011 presidential elections.

    The group alleged an attempt by the Miyettt Allah Cattles breeders, of plans to cower people of the Middle Belt into submission by either voting for Buhari or displacing them from the middle belt so that they would not be able to participate in the 2015 elections.

    It claimed to suspect foul play in the recent attack on the convoy of Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State shortly after he asked President Jonathan to direct the Fulani herdsmen alleged to have killed thousands of people from the belt in their sleep to exit the state.

    “What is baffling about the attack on the convoy of Governor Suswam is that the detachment of soldiers deployed to protect his convoy inexplicably withdrew a few kilometers to where the attack happened.

    “Did the soldiers know something that Governor Suswam did not?”, the group asked, adding “bearing in mind the testimony in many other places that Fulani servicemen actively collude with their herdsmen brothers when they are attacking communities, we can conclude that many of our men in uniform are not faithful to the Nigerian flag.”

    It listed recent attacks by the Fulani herdsmen in the middle belt to include those that took place in Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, Kogi, Kwara, Adamawa, Taraba, Federal Capital Territory(FCT) and southern Kaduna.

    It said: “The regularity, discipline and weapons used in the attacks, lead us to conclude that there is more to them than mere cattle rustling or vengeance”, adding “what we have been witnessing is the bludgeoning of an ethnic militia, with a definite and articulated objective”.

    The group lamented that today, the attack on the middle belt communities have become a daily occurrence.

    The MBD recalled that though the Middle Belt people are peace loving, its officers and men played a commanding role in the successful upturn of the secession of Biafra and that before the Biafra war, they halted the Fulani jihad of Othman Dan Fodio.

    The group counseled the leadership of the Fulani militia to call them to order stressing, “if we could successfully prosecute a war in terrain that is not ours, the result of a war on our terrain is a foregone conclusion.

  • Herdsmen attacks: Northern Governors urge FG to settle nomads

    The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) has called on the federal government to consider a national policy to settle nomads and provide adequate grazing reserves and routes to end the incessant clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in parts of the region.

    Chairman of the forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu made the call in Minna on Sunday while reacting to the killing of about 100 persons in Unguwar Sankwai, Unguwar Gata and Chenshyi villages of Kaura Local Government Area in the southern part of Kaduna State by suspected herdsmen.

    The forum’s reaction which was contained in a statement signed by Aliyu’s spokesman, Malam Danladi Ndayebo, also called for a new approach in solving the recurring clashes between the herdsmen and farmers.

    The forum argued that grazing reserves have proved to be a self sustaining solution for pastoralists across many developed and underdeveloped countries of the world.

    “It is the considered opinion of the forum that a national policy be put in place to settle nomads and provide adequate reserves and cattle routes.”

    The forum lamented that only 36 out of the nation’s 415 grazing reserves have been gazetted and urged the federal government to take immediate steps to set aside dedicated areas of land for pastoral use.

    It argued that the new approach would help in re-integrating the herdsmen into the mainstream society and reducing or even eliminating herdsmen/farmers conflicts,” the statement said.