The Nation Newspaper

Tag: herdsmen

  • Humanitarian Catastrophic: Nigeria among top ten countries

    Nigeria has been listed among nine other countries in this year International Rescue Committee (IRC) countries most at risk of humanitarian catastrophe in 2019.

    The ranking by IRC has 21 countries on the list, with Nigeria ranked eight and Yemen ranked at the top position.

    According to the list published on the 17 of December 2018, by the humanitarian organisation, the presidential election in February 2019 may have a destabilising impact that could spark a greater conflict.

    On Nigeria position IRC said “During 2018, Nigeria has experienced persistent attacks from armed groups as well as communal violence exacerbated by competition for water and land resources. As a result, Over 2 million Nigerians have been displaced internally and 230,000 have sought refuge in neighboring countries”.

    For the outlook it said, “Violence could intensify, triggering more displacements and exacerbating food insecurity for millions of Nigerians. The presidential election in February 2019 may also have a destabilizing impact and could spark greater conflict, leading to further displacement”.

    Countries also listed with Nigeria includes: Yemen, Democratic Republic of Congo, , South Sudan, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Central African Republic, Syria, Ethiopia and Somalia.

    Speaking on the list, Bob Kitchen, the IRC’s Vice President for Emergencies said 2018 was a devastating year for millions around the world, with more people displaced from their homes than ever before.

    He said, “In many of the world’s most challenging places, armed conflict and man-made crisis mean life will get worse and not better in 2019.”

  • Four farmers killed by suspected herdsmen in Benue

    Four farmers have been killed by suspected herdsmen in a fresh attack on  Tse- Dzungwe,  Logo Local Government Area of  Benue State.

    Killed are Terlumun Uke, Samuel Dwem, Draba Dwem and Apaaga Mlanga.

    Tse- Dzungwe which is located on the banks of River Benue, has been repeatedly attacked by herdsmen with residents just recovering from a recent invasion before the latest onslaught.

    A spokesman  for  the community Tyovenda Gbumsy told The Nation that herdsmen moved into the area with a hundreds of cattle which destroyed crops.

    Read also: Armed stowaways hold vessel from Nigeria to ransom in UK

    Tyovenda  who fled to a neighbouring community said the invasion was reported to soldiers drafted to the state and they chased the herdsmen away.

    He said that soon afterwards, the herdsmen regroupedand  launched an attack on Tse- Dzungwe.

    Police Spokesman, Moses Yamu, a DSP said he was yet to be officially informed  about the development.

  • ‘We bought N50,000 gun to protect ourselves from herdsmen’

    Two brothers, Peter and Paul Vonddip, have been arrested by men of the Edo State Police Command for being in possession of a locally-made double barrel pistol, which they bought in Anambra State for N50,000.

    The brothers told the police that they were taking the gun to Plateau State to protect themselves from herdsmen and protect their deceased father’s cows.

    They alleged that their father was killed early this year on his farm by suspected herdsmen.

    A police patrol team on Agbor-Urhonigbe Road accosted a Nissan Vannet vehicle they were travelling in and a search led to the recovery of the gun and three live cartridges.

    Paul, 30, said he worked as a security guard in Agbor, Delta State.

    He said: “I was arrested on my way to Warri in Delta State to give my brother a gun to take to Plateau State. I bought the gun in Anambra State. My younger brother is a tanker driver. I wanted to give him the gun when I was arrested. My father was killed, so I bought the gun for my brother to protect our cows. We had about 100 cows, but only 15 remain because of the crisis in Plateau State.

    “My father was killed by herdsmen in our house. I did not buy the gun to avenge my father’s death, but to protect myself and the remaining cows.”

    Peter said his brother, Paul, bought the gun to protect their cows.

    “Policemen stopped us at a checkpoint and searched our vehicle. They found the gun. Our father was shot dead on his farm. We intended using the gun to protect ourselves from herdsmen.”

    Police Commissioner Babatunde Kokumo said the suspects confessed to the crime and would soon be arraigned.

  • ‘Rescue me from herdsmen’

    A farmer at Ijare in Ifedore Local Government of Ondo State, Mrs. Elizabeth Fapese, has urged the government and security agencies to rescue her from suspected herdsmen.

    She alleged that the herdsmen had destroyed her farm produce worth millions of Naira.

    The victim, who spoke with reporters in Akure, alleged that the herdsmen entered her farm and destroyed crops like maize, millet and cassava.

    She alleged: “My ordeal started on November 25, 2017 on my farm at Ijare when I saw the hoodlums destroying my crops. When I attempted to challenge them, they went wild and threatened to kill me. I narrowly escaped from the scene.

    “Till now, I am not free from their constant threats and destruction of my crops. I am crying out to security agencies to save me from the intruders.”

    Fapese urged the government and security agencies to prevent the herdsmen from attacking people on their farms.

    She implored the government to meet the herdsmen’s leaders, to find a solution to the problem.

    According to her, farmers at Ijare are living in fear over herdsmen’s activities.

    “We are afraid of going to the farm to work or harvest our produce due to threats by these hoodlums.”

    A police source said efforts were on to curtail clashes between farmers and herdsmen.

  • Suspected Herdsmen attack farmers in Ondo

    Hoodlums suspected to be herdsmen on Friday attacked farmers at Nirowo forest along Benin – Ore express way in Odigbo local government of Ondo State.

    Some of them were shot in the process and now receiving medical attention in an undisclosed hospitals in Ore.

    One of the victims, Sunday Wekoyo was said to have narrowly escaped death with gunshot wounds.

    Wekoyo ,an indigene of Ebonyi State was said to be a farmer and hunter in the forest for about five years.

    While narrating his ordeal on the hospital bed,he said “I was in the forest to check my traps before a group of the herdsmen numbering about 12 , who I initially thought were local vigilante group, ordered me to come closer before they opened fire on me .

    ” Out of fear, I moved near them, they pointed their guns, that was how I quickly climbed my motorcycle, and in my attempt to flee , they released the bullets on me . I became so weak immediately but managed to walk some distance to a near by camp where I sought assistance”

    He said this was not the first time herdsmen would be terrorizing them in the forest but has always been lucky.

    The leader of the vigilante group in Ore, Olawale Aboyede confirmed the incident.

    He said he was in the farm when he heard about the incident and has to quickly mobilize his men to rescue the victim to the hospital.

    Read Also: Ekiti lawmaker shot by unknown gunmen

    Aboyede said he suspected that the bandits were syndicate who migrated from another country to unleash terror on them.

    He said “from our finding , we heard that these herdsmen are not from Nigeria, they came from Niger Republic to kidnap, steal, kill and make money in the forest” .

    Aboyede narrated how one of their victims, a pastor,was kidnapped and later killed last year.

    He commended the police force for doing their best,stressing that the area is a difficult terrain and the expanse of the forest which he described as very huge with a boundary across Osun , Oyo and Ogun state.

    Besides, he urged the state government to come to their aid by empowering the locals with little stipends to construct check points at the old Benin – Ore toll gate to be be manned by Military men in order to checkmate activities of criminals

    The police spokesman,Femi Joseph, a Superintendent of Police(SP) could not be reached for comments on the incident.

  • Photo story of Benue’s forgotten children

    A Childhood Lost...

  • Ending farmers/herders clashes: ‘Government must take the lead’

    A former Secretary to the Niger State government and Professor of Agriculture with the University of Ibadan, Prof. Mohammed Yahaya Kuta has said the Nigerian government must take the lead in the process of addressing constant farmers and herders clashes that is threatening the peaceful coexistence of the country.

    Prof. Kuta who was Chairman of the opening session of the National Summit on Conflict Resolution organised by The Nation newspapers and TVC in Abuja said the government should take practical steps to demonstrate its commitment to putting an end to such conflicts.

    He said if the government is interested in having ranches for herders, it should begin by putting something on the ground for the herders to see, pointing out that if ranching can be successful in other countries, there was no reason why it can not succeed in Nigeria.

    Prof. Kuta said over 80 percent of the Nigerian land mass are currently untilised while less than 20 percent is being utilized.

    He said “Government must take the lead in terms of demonstration. Whatever we want to achieve at the end of this, there must be sign post.

    If you want ranches to come up, why not demonstrate where these herders can see that there is an innovation.

    “We should have a place they can see because like the saying goes, seen is believing. We have seen how it has worked in other climes.

    Botswana is a leading light in terms of the success story, Namibia is another success story, South Africa is another leading light.

    “So, why can’t it happen in Nigeria which unarguably the largest nation, with the largest land mass, with the largest potentials of agriculture and arable land for crop production.

    “Why is it that less than 20 percent of this land is utilized. How do we do something in terms of pastoral development and ranching as well as animals so that this country will stake the lead again and transform the people positively so that the people will be better of.”

    He said further that “world Summit on Communication concluded that Communication is about people and people are very critical mass in human development and therefore, communication initiatives makes the difference. So, we must commend you for adding your voice to the ongoing conversation on conflict mitigation and resolution.

    “Within this year alone, the sir Ahmad Bello memorials Foundation has organised two sessions with different stakeholders on the same subject matter and concluded that the ongoing conversation must continue until we get to the end of the matter.
    “So, for you to bring all these stakeholders together as concern people to come and talk about the subject matter especially given the climate of herders farmers conflict is commendable.

    He stressed that in all discussions and meeting to resolve farmers and herders clashes in the country so far, Agriculture Extension workers have not been included, adding that these are the critical stakeholder that should be carried along in the entire process.

    “But there is a missing link. When discussion about agriculture takes place, those agriculture extension workers are always missing and those are the key stakeholders. They are well trained in the act and principle and strategies of relating with the key actors.

    “So, next time when discussions on this are taking place, agriculture extension must be given priority so that we will not continue to talk to ourselves without the real professionals who will help bring about the desired result.”

  • Two herdsmen remanded over robbery

    An Ilorin Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday remanded two herdsmen, Abubarkar Mohammed, and Mohammed Isha, for allegedly robbing people on the Ilorin-Ogbomosho highway on Aug. 28.

    Police Prosecutor, Insp. Abdullahi Sanni told the court that the suspects were arrested, following information received from residents of Olorunsogo community along the highway.

    He said that investigation revealed that the accused persons were armed bandits, who had been terrorising people on the Ilorin-Ogbomosho road.

    Sanni disclosed that the arrest of the two men led to the recovery of three motorcycle, five Nokia phones, one I-phone, one Sony camera, one HP laptop and jewelry.

    Read Also; Lalong mourns death of aide, Nanle

    The prosecutor said the two men were arraigned on a two-count charge of Criminal Conspiracy and Armed Robbery.

    He said that the offences contravened Sections 6(B) and 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap. R11 Law of Nigeria, 2004.

    He urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody, pending the outcome of investigation.

    The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Aminat Shittu, ordered that the suspects should be remanded at Mondala Prison Yard in Ilorin and adjourned the case until Sept. 27 for mention.

  • Buhari not sympathetic to killer herdsmen, says Presidency 

    The Presidency on Wednesday dismissed as wicked and unfounded the conclusion by a media house that President Muhammadu Buhari is sympathetic to the activities of violent herdsmen.

    According to the report, the President has been indifferent to the killer herdsmen atrocities.

    But a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, rejected the allegations of the media house.

    Read Also:Atiku’s allegations: Buhari not power drunk – Presidency

    He said “We reject The Punch newspaper’s September 4th, 2018, editorial which alleged that President Buhari had sympathy for criminality perpetuated by a misguided group.

    “The editorial was not only disrespectful of the President and his office, but was also reckless, thoughtless, inflammatory and totally irresponsible.

    “It is steadily becoming clear from the views, news and opinions of this newspaper that it will explore every opportunity and twist every fact to declare every Nigerian and ECOWAS member with Fulani blood a terrorists, who must be stripped of their rights as citizens, or worse subjected to ethnic cleansing.

    “We believe and strongly insist that criminality perpetrated by some miscreants should not be used to demonize other responsible and decent members of the same ethnic group.

    “The collective demonization of any ethnic group because of the misguided behaviour or conduct of criminals is improper and no responsible government will ever do so.”

    He went on “The Punch editorial is, therefore, sheer blackmail and mischief designed to push its own sinister and unpatriotic agenda disguised as free speech.

    “By inciting the people against an ethnic group because of the criminal activities of a few is unhelpful and deleterious to peace.

    “Rather than proffer solutions, the editorial only regurgitated simplistic narratives of complex national issues, deliberately neglecting the broader and unbiased understanding and interpretation.

    “After the highly biased and misleading editorial, the newspaper could not but come to terms with the established fact that climate change and criminality remained key drivers of the farmers-herdsmen conflict.

    “Currently, a massive and fierce military operation is going on in Zamfara State to neutralise the activities of bandits who have been sacking communities and killing innocent people, and the security outfits have been deployed to safeguard lives and property.”

    The President’s commitment to the security and wellbeing of all Nigerians, he said, is unwavering and total, and no criminal group, herdsmen or ethnic militias, will be spared the wrath of the law.

    He added “In its attempt to build a case against the President and tarnish his hard-earned reputation, the newspaper misquoted and removed from the actual context words attributed to him, one or two of which we wish to clarify here.

    “In pointing out that some Nigerians, who dare the desert and the Mediterranean in order to migrate illegally to Europe have to blame themselves, the President had a context, following severe warnings by local authorities that were clearly being ignored.

    “The unfortunate Nigerians were always lured into harmful and unsafe journeys, with high likelihood of death or slavery.

    “The President said the ECOWAS protocol allows freedom of movement but Nigeria will not tolerate the illegality. An administration that paid USD500,000 to evacuate 3,000 stranded Nigerians in Libya and a similar amount to bring back those that went to Russia to watch the World Cup this year cannot, in all fairness, be accused of insensitivity to the plight of illegal migrants.

    “The question to ask the newspaper is simple: are we to say nothing, do nothing when our young citizens make the wrong choice of embarking on journeys that lead to slavery and death in the Mediterranean?

    “Is it out of place to warn of the dangers of such wrong decisions?” he queried

    He said that for the second issue, the President could not have been wrong in drawing attention to negative, abrasive and insensitive reporting by a section of the press that threatens to jeopardize national security by draining the morale of uniformed men and women who are sacrificing their lives to keep the country united.

    “Without a safe, peaceful and stable country, it is difficult to imagine how newspapers can prosper in their trade.

    “Under this administration, no media, no matter how provocative, will be fettered in their freedom of expression. Rather, we will continue to appeal to their conscience to place national interest and professionalism above narrow concerns.

    “The Presidency advises members of the media to exercise restraint and good judgement for the larger good of the society.

    “We must not forget the significant and unsavoury roles played by journalists in the Rwandan genocide of 1994, which claimed almost one million lives. We should all work for the good of the country and all citizens.”

     

  • Suspected herdsmen kill doctor in Delta

    A medical doctor (name withheld) with the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba has been killed by suspected herdsmen.

    The Nation gathered that two friends travelling with victim were abducted along Obomkpa road, Aniocha North L.G.A.

    The Nation gathered that the victims were travelling when they ran into the hoodlums who murdered the doctor and abducted his friends.

    Read Also:50 security operatives killed by herdsmen since January, says Ortom

    It was gathered that the abducted friends were released after an undisclosed ransom was paid.

    The Nation learnt that the doctor hails from Ndokwa East, while his friends hail from Onicha Olona and Ogwashi-Uku.

    In a related development, a police sergeant has been arrested for allegedly stabbing to death for flirting with his wife.

    The incident occurred in Oteri community,Ughelli North L.G.A.

    It was gathered that the suspect had a misunderstanding with his wife and were separated.

    The victim allegedly slept with the woman despite entreaties by the policeman to the victim to leave his wife.

    The policeman who had been away, returned for a visit found the victim with his wife.

    A source told The Nation that the policeman broke a bottle and stabbed the victim repeatedly and escaped.

    The victim died before medical assistance could reach him.

    Delta Police image- maker, DSP Andrew Animals confirmed the incident and arrest of the policeman.

    He said, “The matter was reported, the officer has been arrested while investigation has commenced.”