The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Herdsmen/farmers crisis

  • Group threatens to drag perpetrators of herdsmen/farmers crisis to ICC

    The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC), has cried out to human rights organisations around the world over the ongoing politically masterminded killings in Nigeria.

    The group, while threatening to drag those behind the bloodletting in the country to the International Criminal Court, ICC, noted that the endless clashes between herders and farmers, which had led to lost of lives and valuables worth millions of naira in some part of the country had political undertone.

    SHAC lamented that some individuals and organisations have taken the laws into their hands by inciting political violence in innocent and harmless Nigerian citizens.

    We are inundated with overwhelming evidence that suggests that the spate of killings under the guise of herdsmen’s/farmers conflict, are indeed politically motivated.

    A statement signed by Adams Odoh esq, Executive Director of the group and obtained by our reporter on Monday claimed that there are overwhelming facts to show that some individuals and organizations are taking advantage of the ethnic and religious fragility of the country to continue to sow the seeds of hate and discord to achieve political goals.

    According to Odoh, “This act of impunity, this rampage of impunity must be stopped in the interest of the continued existence of Nigeria and by extension the African continent because of the strategic role Nigeria plays in the political and economic stabilisation of the African continent.

    “We are also appalled that despite overwhelming pieces of evidence that points to specific individuals and organizations, nothing has been done to bring them to face the full wrath of the law.

    “While it is worrisome to state that these heinous acts has resulted in the loss of lives, and destruction of properties, international human rights watchdogs and persecutors such as the United Nations (UN) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) have not acted in the interest of the human race despite the series of petitions that has been submitted to it. This is very sad.

    “As a first, the ICC has the jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.

    “The question we therefore seek to ask the ICC is whether acts deliberately committed as part of an attack aimed at a specific sect of the population can be considered as a crime against humanity? And if yes, why hasn’t the ICC deemed it pertinent to commence prosecution of these individuals and organisations? Does Nigeria not fall under its jurisdiction? Some of these questions we demand answers to in the interest of peace and stability.

    “Having stated the above, we are in unequivocal terms requesting for an immediate investigation on the sponsors of politically motivated killings in Nigeria, and also scrutiny of the various petitions that have been submitted to the ICC in recent times.

    “As a background, we are aware that petitions have been lodged against some governors who have instigated attacked aimed at a specific sect of the population in their states. For example, the governors of Taraba and the Benue States are culpable in this regard, despite the “we are the victims” public posturing that they have embraced to cover for their nefarious activities.

    “Some other individuals that are supposed to conduct themselves as elder statesmen like General T.Y. Danjuma, have also constituted themselves into that clog in the wheels of progress in the country by directly and indirectly inciting the people to take up arms against a particular sect in the society.

    “We are worried that no single individual has been called for questioning despite overwhelming pieces of evidences before the ICC.

    “As a way forward, the SHAC as an organisation, in conjunction with other stakeholders, is desirous to see to an end of the spate of political killings (under the guise of ethnic and religious crisis) in the country.

    “We are consequently going to embark on daily sit outs and pressure outings to drive home our point in the light of the above.

    “It must be stated that SHAC is a non-governmental organization that believes in peaceful means of driving home its agenda. And this is one of such mediums.”

  • NAF commits over 1300 officers to herdsmen/farmers crisis

    The Air Force has committed 1300 officers to the herdsmen/farmer crisis ravaging the nation.

    The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, disclosed this yesterday in Makurdi during his operational visit at NAF Tactical Air Command Headquarters, Makurdi, where he inaugurated the Single Officers Quarters and a Cancer Screening Centre.

    “Regarding the security situation in the Benue State, NAF on its part has actively participated in the efforts to curbing the challenges with the commitment of over 1000 troops and 300 Special Forces to Nguroje, Agatu, and Doma communities.

    “I wish to restate our commitment to ensure that Benue State and the country at large is rid of all forms of security challenges that hinder our economic, social and cultural wellbeing.

    “We shall also continue our ongoing infrastructural renewal towards the achievement of a decent and conducive work environment in all our bases.”

    The CAS said the decision to build a cancer screening centre in Makurdi was in recognition that the disease was the second leading cause of death globally and has accounted for 8.8 million deaths in 2015 according to World Health Organisation (WHO).

    He said the centre would facilitate early diagnosis and prevention of premature deaths among NAF personnel, families and host communities.

    He said the screening centre was a multi-purpose facility with state of the art equipment adding that counseling and referral services as well as vaccination against the human papilloma virus would also be available.

  • Herdsmen/Farmers crisis: Obaseki, Security Chiefs meet Miyetti Allah

    …Strategise to curb herdsmen/farmers’ clashes

     

    Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the state government will continue to intensify efforts to stem clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the state to ensure harmonious relationship among different groups in the state.

    Obaseki disclosed this during a parley with the national leaders of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and heads of security agencies in the state, at the Government House in Benin City, Edo State capital.

    He said though there might be challenges with identifying some herdsmen due to their itinerary nature, the state government was working to ensure that such issues are cleared to ensure smooth relations among the herdsmen and farming communities across the state.

    He said the meeting was organised as part of the measures to engage stakeholders and exchange ideas to ensure peace, noting, “As a member of the committee of the National Economic Council led by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, to deal with the issue, I know how sensitive the issue is and how it has led to the loss of lives and property in many states across the country.”

    He said the state is fortunate to have recorded fewer incidents as efforts have been intensified to manage the situation. He said this was done by setting up the security committee in the 18 local government councils, noting “The committee was made up of council chairmen, two leaders of the Hausa/Fulani community, Directorate of State Security, Divisional Police officers and two native farmers. They will continue to meet monthly and report any incident in their areas to the committee at the state level.”

    Obaseki explained that in addition to the structures in place to address the situation, the state has resolved challenges by identifying herders and organising sensitisation programmes for them. He added, “With the structures in place, sensitisation programmes will be organised for the Hausa/Fulani herdsmen, farmers and other relevant stakeholders in different communities across the state. Through these, we hope to reduce the incidents of clashes between herders and farmers.”

    He maintained that the ban on night-grazing still stands, and approved a 40-day window request by the group to allow strangers in their midst to register with the state government.

    National President, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Muhammadu Kirowa, represented by the group’s National Secretary, Baba Othman Ngelzarma, commended the governor for the positive steps taken to ensure peaceful co-existence between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the state.

    He said, “The stand against night-grazing shows the governor’s seriousness to maintain peace in the state. The setting up of the committee with representatives of local communities, who are critical stakeholders, will go a long way to ensure a lasting peace.”

    Kirowa said it was worrisome that the clash between farmers and herdsmen, which is a national security problem, has assumed a new dimension with political, religious and ethnic colourations.

    “If the problem must be resolved, it must be approached holistically. We are ready to capture the data of our people through biometrics as it has become necessary for us to identify our members,” he said.

    “The sensitisation for relevant stakeholders is another important step that will contribute to peace in the state.  We have tried this method in Ekiti state and it has worked effectively to reduce the clash between farmers and Fulani herdsmen,” Kirowa added.

     

  • ‘Herdsmen/farmers crisis can ignite war’

    The incessant herdsmen/farmers clashes all over the country is capable of igniting war if not carefully addressed, the Ebonyi State government and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) have warned.

    Governor David Umahi and MACBAN’s National Chairman Bello Bodejo spoke Abakaliki during a security meeting called by the governor following the recent herdsmen/farmers clash.

    Umahi and Bodejo called for caution in handling the crisis.

    Herdsmen attacked some farmers in Enyanwu Igwe, Igbeagu community of Izzi council on Monday. Four persons died and two were injured.

    Leaders of cattle herders in Southeast and South South, stakeholders of the troubled community as well as security chiefs attended the enlarged security meeting.

    Umahi, who decried the attack, ordered herdsmen in the area to relocate until embittered villagers are calm to avoid a reprisal.

    He said: “The killings are unprovoked. Life is so sacred. You can’t kill people as if they are fowls. Izzi people are warriors; I physically held them against retaliation. The herdsmen there in Izzi have to leave for now until I can calm everybody down. The way we are going, it can provoke national war and it will not help anybody. If there is a reprisal, I will hold all the leaders responsible, I will charge all of you for any reprisal.

    “The life of every Ebonyian is very dear to me. God forbid, I can’t withstand where 76 people were killed like in Benue, I can’t withstand it. Some people may be fighting to die but we fight to live, let’s wisdom and handle the matter.

    “This is a national problem; we don’t want our people to continue being killed. We must use wisdom to handle this problem. It is very easy to say I want all the herdsmen to leave Ebonyi, but there are lot of implication.”

    He regretted that the agreement reached between the state and herdsmen for peaceful co-existence has been destroyed.

    “We banned under-aged herders, we banned night grazing. We have no grazing routes in Ebonyi, which means that nobody has the right to carry cattle by route to Ebonyi state, and we agreed on that. We also agreed with the herdsmen that the first offender must be prosecuted.

    “We also said no farmer should go to farm with gun and no herdsmen should rear cattle with gun or machete, just stick. We must abide by these rules,” Umahi added.

     

  • Herdsmen/farmers crisis: Waziri says intelligence gathering vital

    Herdsmen/farmers crisis: Waziri says intelligence gathering vital

    •Leads NGO to donate relief materials to Benue IDPs camps

    A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri, wants the security agencies to utilise a mix of technology and human efforts in tackling the security challenges facing the country.

    Waziri spoke in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, when she led a delegation of Women Youths Children and Crime Organisation (WYCCO), a non-governmental organisation, to donate relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the state.

    “Bringing relief materials to support and assist the victims of violent attacks can only be a temporary measure,” she said.

    “A long lasting solution is for the various security agencies to rise to the challenge of their constitutional responsibility of securing lives and property of citizens; farmers and herdsmen alike, wherever they find themselves in any part of the country, through preventive measures.”

    The security agencies,according to her,should “look in the direction of employing scientific and technological means of intelligence gathering rather than relying wholly on human intelligence. “In this age and time, technology will reveal large movement of people towards any particular direction, provide clues to their motives and give headway on how to nip any crime in the bud. “This way, atrocities like the recent killings, not only in Benue but in other parts of the country can be prevented. In essence, we should invest in technology and use same to fight crime.”

    Mrs.Waziri said the donation was to identify with the people of Benue, “especially families of the victims and the displaced by bringing succour through essential relief materials to the various IDPs camps in the state as a complement to what governments at different levels and other concerned persons and groups have been doing.”

    She urged the victims, their friends and relations to take solace in God and shelve any thought of reprisal. “Let me also appeal to our people to embrace all peace initiatives and shun any idea of reprisal because reprisal begets reprisal. It is a vicious circle that blows no one any good”, she stressed.

    She expressed appreciation to the Oba of Lagos and former Inspector General of Police, Musiliu Smith, who is the patron of WYCCO for their support towards the initiative.

     

  • Herdsmen/farmers crisis: Don urges committee to arrest culprits

    Vice Chancellor of the Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State, Prof. Taofeek Ibrahim, has urged the Osinbajo-led committee on herdsmen/ farmers clashes to fish out perpetrators of such horrendous crimes.

    The don blamed the killings on bad governance by successive governments.

    Prof. Ibrahim, who addressed reporters at the sideline of the school’s 13th matriculation ceremony, was confident in the ability of Prof Osinbajo to handle the situation going by his past records.

    He said: “I have no basis to doubt his ability to deal with this situation, going by his antecedents and his good governance policy. I

    am very optimistic that something concrete will come out of that.

    “The committee should be very pragmatic in doing justice to the assignment, and the mandate the Federal Government gave him so that we will get the perpetrators, and get over these killings.”