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Tag: killer herdsmen

  • ‘How killer herdsmen dispatched my husband, only two children into early graves’

    ‘How killer herdsmen dispatched my husband, only two children into early graves’

    For the people of Mbaikyor, Mbadura, Yaav and Kumakwagh areas of Turan, Jato-Aka area, Benue State, the last couple of months have been trying times.

    Suspected killer herdsmen have been invading the communities and several others in the area, dispatching scores of farmers to their early graves.

    The herdsmen, who had allegedly declared an ‘operation one man one bullet’ on the Tiv farmers in the area, also forced many survivors in the affected communities to take refuge elsewhere after their homes were left in ruins.

    One of the victims, Cicilia Gondo, who lost her husband and only two children to the crisis in early February 2025, has nowhere to take refuge and decided to find her way to Lafia, Nasarawa State to settle with a relative spoke to our correspondent in Lafia about the gravity of the crisis and how her husband and children were killed in one sweep by the herdsmen rendering her dream shattered.

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    She told our correspondent in Lafia that the murderous activities of Fulani herdsmen in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State was a planned genocide aimed at decimating the people for no just reason.

    Gondo said: “Our people committed no offence. We did not kill or confiscate their cows. Nobody or Tiv farmer complained of encroachment into their lands by herdsmen.

    “We had absolutely no problem with the herdsmen and there was no disagreement of any sort.

    “The perennial herdsmen attacks which have led to loss of many lives with large communities deserting their ancestral homes is unfortunate

    “As a result of these developments, farming in the area became difficult as our people can hardly go to their farms.

    “They cannot even stay in their villages and have had to desert them for fear of the mindless killers.

    “As things now stand, by next year, Benue may no longer be called the food basket of the nation because of the atrocities of herdsmen.”

    Repeatedly wiping tears from her face as she spoke, Mrs Gondo recalled the fateful morning of February 2 when some herdsmen ambushed her husband and their two children on the farm.

    She said: “The four of us were heading to the farm when suddenly we heard gunshots from different directions

    “Before we knew what was happening, everywhere was in disarray.”

    She said her husband and the two children ran into the bush while she ran in the opposite direction

    “That was how I was able to escape as bullets came from nowhere and hit my husband and two children.

    “But there were no bullets in my direction, so I was able to survive it.

    “When I first heard the gunshots and my husband and children went the other way, I had prayed to God to accept my soul.

    “My husband was telling me to hide and lie down. But that was his last voice I heard.

    “When the dust raised by the herdsmen’s attack settled, some villagers rush to the scene only to find the lifeless bodies of my husband  and the two children in pools of blood.

    “The bullets had hit my husband on his chest while my only two boys were shot in the head.

    “They all died on the spot.

    “It was the first time I would come face to face with death.”

    Yet to come to terms with becoming a widow when she spoke with our correspondent in Lafia, Mrs Gondo said she could not believe that all the hope that she and her husband had nursed about training their only two children up to the university had been dashed by their sudden death.

    She recalled that she got married to her husband in 1999 but could not have children until eight years later when they had their first son Terngu while Aondowase came three years after, and she was unable to give birth again till the sudden death of her husband and the children.

    The widow said her husband was not educated because his father died very early and he was the only son. Then his mother followed suit seven years later. “That was even before I got married to him.

    “But our plan was to give our children the needed support through farm work so that they could go to school, as Terungwa was getting set to register for the 2025 JAMB when death came calling.

    “My sister here is married to her husband who is from Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

    “They are based here in Lafia, and she was the one who brought me here after my husband, children and some other victims were given a mass burial, so that I can rest and think of what next to do with my life.

    “But honestly, I feel that the herdsmen should have killed me too so that we can all return to our creator at the same time.

    “It is still like a dream, because that very day, we woke up in the morning and my husband told me that we should get ready to sell some tubbers of  yams to raise some money for  Terungwa, our first son, to go to Makurdi to register for JAMB and probably do some extra JAMB classes.

    “He was also talking about sending some yam tubbers to my own people.

    “There was nothing to suggest that my husband was embarking on a journey of no return or that it would be the last time we would be seeing and having such a progressive conversation.

    “I did not also know that I would never see my children again. My life is ruined and there is no hope for me any more.

    “God should just take my life. The herdsmen have finished me.

    “Killing my husband and two children in one sweep is too much for me to bear.

    “Certainly, life won’t be the same.

    “My husband never gave me any inkling he was leaving this sinful world. All along, he kept telling me about his plans to train our children.

    “But suddenly, both he and the children left the world and we could not achieve our dreams together.

    “I wept bitterly because of the enormous things we still wanted to do together. I’m depressed because of the sudden death of the people I called my world.

    “The killer herdsmen have deprived me of peace of mind. The killing of my husband and only two children was a devastating blow.

    “I have not been sleeping as they keep appearing to me anytime I want to sleep.

    “God, what have I done to deserve this?

    The distraught widow recalled that the entire community had been under heavy attack.

    “Killings have been going on without anybody to call the herdsmen to order.

    “More than 49 people have been killed so far in the affected areas.

    “My husband was shot on the chest while another bullet caught him from the back and pierced through his stomach, killing him on the spot, while my two children’s heads were damaged with bullets.”

    Mrs Gondo told our correspondent in Lafia that the entire Mbaikyor, Mbadura, Yaav and Kumakwagh areas, popularly called Turan, in Kwande Local Government Area, was under severe herdsmen attacks and had been deserted.

    She said: “The inhabitants have fled their homes following gruesome killings by herdsmen on a daily basis.

    “If nothing is done by security agents, the herdsmen intention is to capture half of Benue State.

    “The affected communities face imminent famine because nobody is prepared to go to the farm right now.

    “Herdsmen with sophisticated weapons have taken over almost all the Turan communities in Jato-Aka, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.”

    The House of Representatives member representing the Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency, Dr. Asema Achado, says the sustained attacks and killings of innocent people in Benue State represent a deeply troubling and unacceptable emergency that cannot be overlooked.

    Achado, in a statement, pointed out that many local government areas in Benue State are facing attacks by armed herders, with thousands of people displaced, many killed and property worth billions of naira destroyed.

    He maintained that the attacks are unprovoked and systematic, leaving families in mourning and communities engulfed in fear.

    Achado stresses that multiple reports and testimonies from affected families and community leaders have consistently pointed to the involvement of armed herders in the attacks that have plagued the state.

    Also speaking, an indigene and elder of Nyiev-Tiev, Barakur District of Mbaikyor council ward, Turan-Jato-Aka, Mr Atsaregh Vershima Barnabas, told our correspondent that his area is badly affected by herdsmen attacks.

    He said on December 25, last year, more than 50 people were killed, causing the entire community to be deserted.

    “The constant herdsmen attacks is gradually eliminating the poor innocent people of Turan from the Tiv and Kwande map.

    “We are calling on government to end the fulani herdsmen attacks so we could go back to our ancestral homes.

    “The constant attacks on us have claimed over 100 lives within this year alone, while series of mass burials have taken place in the land.”

    He traced the killings to the continuation of mining activities in the land while the host community members are been killed.

    “As an Indigene of the community, I am worried that our people are being killed on a daily basis around the mining sites and other parts of the community while mining activities are peacefully taking place without any miner being touched or harmed.

    “This is of great concern because most of the miners share the same backgrounds with the herdsmen whereas they are comfortably hosted in our communities.

    “Most of the drivers who covey these mining products are of the same backgrounds with the herdsmen whereas they stay in our midst in the name of mining to get relevant information for their members.”

    He said some traditional rulers in the area “who are supposed to be the custodians of the law are being mentioned publicly by members of the community on their relationship and involvement with the herdsmen who are killing and displacing us on a daily basis.”

    He called on the state government to place “an immediate ban on all mining activities in Turan land and Kwande LG as a whole, because we have been experiencing constant attacks on a daily and weekly basis on our poor, innocent people who are not necessarily residing within the mining sites and areas where mining activities are constantly going on without interruption.

    “I suspect that mining is part of our problem, and for that reason, we appeal that all miners vacate our immediate communities to ensure thorough security check against our invaders.

    “It will interest you to know that over 75% of Turan land is displaced and occupied by fulani herdsmen. This cuts across the five council wards of the clan moon where not even a cat is remaining in Mbaikyor, Mbadura, Yaav and Kumakwagh.

    “As dangerous as it may be, Turan is bordered internationally with Cameron, and nationally with Taraba and Cross River states.

    “Locally with Katsina Ala local government, which is facing very serious insecurity challenges, as well as Ikov people of Ushongo Local Government Area.

    “Worst of it all, in Kwande, Turan is bordered by Ikyurav Ya, Shangev-ya and Nanev.

    “if the fulani herdsmen who are now attacking people around the backyards of Jato Aka town succeed in entering Jato Aka, then no part of Kwande and Ikov people of Ushongo is safe again.

    “The time to secure the people of Turan who are displaced and are residing in Jato Aka and Nyihemba as well the entire people of Kwande and Ikov is now.

    “I am crying for my people as true son of the land who is pained and touched to the bone.”

  • Buhari not sympathetic to killer-herdsmen, says presidency

    The presidency yesterday 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’s atrocities.

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

    He said: “We reject The Punch’s September 4, 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 demonise other responsible and decent members of the same ethnic group.

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

    Shehu went on: “The 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 well-being 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.”

     

     

     

  • 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.”

     

  • Killings: Activists demand designation of killer-herdsmen as terrorists

    A coalition of pressure groups yesterday in Abuja called on the Federal Government to designate killer herdsmen as terrorist group.

    The groups which marched on Abuja streets,  said the proscription and designation of the killer-herdsmen as a terrorist group, will give the Federal Government a greater leverage to seek better regional and international support to confront their menace.

    In a protest letter addressed  to the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), under the auspices of “OurMumu Don Do; Concerned Nigerians; Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy; Campaign for Democracy and MAD Connect”, urged him to invoke the provision of Section 2(1)(c) of the Terrorism Prevention Act (TPA) 2011, against the killer herdsmen.

    The section provides; “where two or more persons associate for the purpose of or where an organisation engages in participating or collaborating in an act of terrorism; promoting, encouraging or exhorting others to commit an act of terrorism; or setting up or pursuing acts of terrorism, the judge in chambers may on an application made by the Attorney General, National Security Adviser or Inspector General of Police on the approval of the president; declare any entity to be a proscribed organisation and the notice should be published in official gazette.”

    The protest came on the heels of a law suit asking the Abuja division of the Federal High Court to proscribed and designate the Fulani herdamen and Miyetti Allah Kauta  Hore as  terrorist organisation.

    In a suit before the Abuja division of the Federal High Court, a  Makurdi-based lawyer, Matthew Nyiutsa, has asked the court  to compel President Muhammadu Buhari and Attorney General of the Federation to move a court of competent jurisdiction to proscribe the group.

    In addition, the plaintiff in the suit is seeking the prohibition of all activities of Fulani herdsmen in Benue State that has resulted in the deliberate and intentional killings, massacre, wanton destruction of both private and public properties including residential and commercial houses, schools, hospitals/ clinic, markets, water boreholes/reservoirs, invasion of ancestral lands of the inhabitants as acts of terrorism under the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 as amended.

    The protest letter which was read by Ariyo Atoye of the Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy, said more than 900 innocent lives have been lost so far in 2018 to the unprovoked, brutish attacks of killer herdsmen in the middle-belt Zone of the country alone, according to available statistics.

    The letter reads in part, ” We are extremely concerned that the survival of Nigeria is currently being threatened by the atrocities of killer herdsmen in the country. On daily basis, innocent Nigerians are being slaughtered in different parts of the country.

    “In 2018 alone, hundreds of innocent Nigerians have been cut down by this group, and hundreds of communities have been affected by wanton destructions of human lives and properties, so much so that President Muhamadu Buhari had to publicly declare during his recent visits to the United Kingdom and the United States of America, that Nigeria is under the invasion of killer herdsmen from Libya. It is, however, instructive to admit for effective action and intervention that there cannot be infiltrations into the country by external forces without internal collaborators.”

    Praising the recent decision by the Federal Government that “all animal farmers must ranch their cattle and livestock for better productivity,” as a significant steps, the group however said it was not a sufficient alone to stop the killings and destructions because the country in already under invasion of killer herdsmen.

    “The attacks by these killer herdsmen have affected innocent and peace-loving Nigerians in their thousands across the country, uprooted families, destroyed communities socio-economic activities and business, depriving them.of their means of survival and the desecration of their cultural and ancestral heritage. These barbaric killings and mindless attacks undermine the laws of Nigeria and principles of the UN Charter concerning the protection of human life.

    “We are aware, that the Benue State government has in a judicial process, identified that a group , is responsible for the widespread killings and violence across 14 out of the 23 local councils in the state. This development has made it compelling for the government to quickly investigate the activities of the group in the interest of entrenching justice, safety, and peace in the state, and the entire country.

    The groups urged the AGF to “to immediately take firm action towards getting President Muhammadu Buhari, to proscribe and designate the killer herdsmen a terrorist group in Nigeria. By doing so, we believe that the federal government will be one step farther in ending this deadly group, at the soonest time possible.”

    Replying, Mrs. Lola Uket, the Acting Director, General Services, Federal Ministry of Justice, who received the letter on behalf of the AGF, assured them that it will be delivered to the AGF through the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General of the Federation, Mr. Dayo Apata.

    Those who led the groups include Charlie Boy Oputa; (Our Mumu Don Do); Nwazuruahu Shield of Leadership and Accountability Initiative and Maryann Apollo.

  • Row over Buhari’s link of killer-herdsmen to Gadaffi

    Tempers flare in Senate

    Sagay, Balarabe, Agbakoba, others differ

    30 killed in Taraba, Benue 

    Row yesterday broke out over President Muhammadu Buhari’s London statement on killer-herdsmen.

    In the Senate, tempers flared as it discussed the statement.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it showed that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) could not handle security challenges.

    Two former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) presidents Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) and Wole Olanipekun (SAN) criticised the President.

    But three other Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), Prof. Itse Sagay, Bolaji Ayorinde and Festus Keyamo, as well as Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) leader Balarabe Musa said the President could not be   faulted.

    In Taraba and Benue states, 30 persons were killed in fresh herdsmen attacks. Twenty five were killed in Taraba and five in Benue.

    At the Senate, its Leader, Ahmed Lawan, and his deputy Bala Ibn Na’Allah rose against Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe for what they described as his uncomplimentary remarks on the President.

    It took the Senate President Bukola Saraki’s intervention to restore order.

    The President on Wednesday in London said the late Libyan President Muammar Gadaffi’s gunmen were the killer-herdsmen.

    The gunmen, he said, infiltrated Nigeria and other West African countries after Gadaffi’s death in 2011.

    At plenary yesterday, Abaribe drew senators’ attention to the President’s statement, which he described in unprintable words.

    He said: “This chamber has discussed the killings in Nigeria. I recall that on the matter of herdsmen and farmers’ clashes, two explanations were given by high-ranking security personnel. The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, said these killings were as a result of laws being passed by states.

    “Secondly, the Defence Minister, Mansur Dan-Ali said that these killings were as a result of the blockade of grazing routes. And we continued to look at all these explanations.

    “Yesterday (Wednesday) in London, President Muhammadu Buhari said that these killings were as a result of the people who were trained by Muammar Gaddafi.

    “Mr. President was implying that these people who are doing the killings in Nigeria are invaders from outside of Nigeria.

    “If so, it validates my point in this chamber that when a Commander-in-Chief says he cannot take care of invaders, why is he still a Commander-in-Chief?

    “Why do we still continue to indulge this President that goes around to tell everybody outside this country that he is totally incompetent? It is obvious…”

    Some of his colleagues, who found his words distasteful and harsh, attempted to shout him down.

    But Abaribe stood his ground and insisted on having his way.

    Lawan promptly raised a point of order to cut him short.

    Coming under Order 53 (7) on the need to avoid the use of offensive words in the Senate, he said: “The President is the leader of this country and he deserves the respect and courtesy of this chamber and those of us in it. I was once a member of the opposition and I do not recall ever calling the then President incompetent or insulting him. This is our institution. If we do not conduct ourselves with respect, nobody will. I want to ask my colleague to immediately withdraw his statement and apologise to this chamber”

    Saraki asked Abaribe to be guided as an elderstatesman, adding that it was obvious the senator used certain words that were unacceptable.

    Saraki asked Abaribe if he had concluded his submissions as tempers continued to rise.

    The Senate President added: “We can make our points without using words that are offensive. Please be guided accordingly.”

    Abaribe replied: “I am very well guided by you but there are words that there are no alternatives to. What I did was to interpret the words by Mr. President in London. If any word I used is misunderstood by anyone, I apologise.

    “What I am saying is simple. The heads of security in Nigeria made several explanations for the killings of our people. It shows that there is a disconnect…”

    Abaribe could not conclude his submission because of the tense situation.

    Saraki responded to douse the tension, saying:

    ”Leader (Lawan) came with a point of order and you have complied by an apology. Have you finished?

    Before Abaribe could take the floor, Na’Allah raised another point of order also aimed at stopping the Abia South lawmaker.

    Na’Allah said senators were forbidden by their rule to discuss the President’s or judicial officers’ conduct without a substantive motion.

    Saraki sustained Na’Allah’s point of order to halt Abaribe’s submission.

    Some senators were seen crowding Abaribe’s seat after Saraki’s ruling in a move to prevail on him to sheathe his sword.

    Saraki quickly signalled to Lawan to move to the next item on the order paper.

    PDP, Balarabe, Agbakoba, Olanipekun, others differ

    There were divergent views yesterday on the President’s London statement on killer-herdsmen.

    Some hailed him for unveiling the identities of the killer-herdsmen, others deplored the statement.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the  statement showed that the government could not handle security challenges.

    In a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP said: “By running to Archbishop Justin Welby to declare that the insurgents and marauders pillaging our people are fighters from the late Muammar Gadaffi’s Libya, President Buhari confirms the position of Nigerians that he is incapable of handling the security challenges of our nation.

    “We invite Nigerians to recall that in November 2017, President Buhari had informed the Nigerian community in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire that Gadaffi’s fighters were responsible for the escalation of Boko Haram insurgency.

    “This time, Mr President has revealed that the killer-herdsmen ravaging our nation and killing our people are from Libya.

    “If the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government knew all these that the marauders and insurgents are invaders, then why is it engaging them in dialogue, reportedly paying ransom and even considering the amnesty option for them.

    “In the same vein, Nigerians should demand explanations from President Buhari on why his administration has been asking the victims of marauders’ attacks in various states, particularly, Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Nasarawa, Zamfara, Plateau, among others, to learn to accommodate, if it knows that the attackers had links with Libya.”

    Former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) President Chief Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) said Nigerians were tired of complaints, adding that they are only interested in a workable solution.

    He said: “Whether they are from Libya or not, what is evident is that the President has not displayed efficiency. Blaming Libya is not the issue. What is the President doing? Is he doing anything to resolve it? He knows the source of the problem. Let him now tackle the problem.”

    Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) Leader  Alhaji Balarabe Musa said the President may have spoken the truth because he has access to security information as the chief security officer.

    He urged him to act with speed, saying the solution to the challenge is more important than its attribution to foreign elements.

    Musa, a Second Republic governor of Kaduna State, said: “The President knows better. He is the chief security officer. He may not be far from the truth. But, that does not mean that we should not resolve the issue to the satisfaction of all.”

    Afenifere leader Chief Reuben Fasoranti blamed the President for negligence, saying the borders are porous.

    He said: “What are the security men doing? Why allow foreigners to infiltrate our country? They are careless. It is either they colluded with foreign elements or they are careless.”

    Activist lawyer Festus Keyamo (SAN), said: He said some of these armed men found their way into Nigeria pretending to be herdsmen but they are actually those who fled from Libya. What the President said is a known fact. He did not say anything strange at all. That people with arms fled Libya and invaded most of the countries north of the Sahara, around the Magreb and West Africa, including Nigeria, has been discussed globally on issues concerning terrorism.

    “Most world bodies and researchers on terrorism have said that those people who escaped from Libya with arms found their way into different countries in West Africa. To solve the problem, we have to disarm them and the President has already given that order over a month ago.

    “He said everybody, including herders, seen with arms should face the law. I agree that nomadic cattle rearing should also stop. Our borders are supposed to be well policed but the

    issue of corruption in our border is still high.

    “You cannot police every single strand of our borders. It is not the President that will go and stay at the border. The problem of porous borders did not start today. It’s as far back as 1961 that is why smuggling has not stopped.

    “The way forward in my opinion is for some of the herders to be used as example. If found with arms; they should be prosecuted and punished”.

    Another former NBA President Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) said Gaddafi died several years ago, adding that  this leads us to the puzzle , “when in his life time did he start training them ? How and when did he recruit them? When did the Nigerian government discover this mystery? And why did Mr President not inform us at home at any time before his disclosure in London.

    “To me, the mode of dissemination of this important information in a foreign land isn’t tidy enough. Snippets of information about major events in our country shouldn’t come to us through second hand information released to foreign media by our leaders. It’s not fair to us as citizens. Lady May, the British Prime Minister, will never come here or go to anywhere to be supplying us or foreign citizens vital information about Britain. Those in charge of our foreign affairs should do more, and treat us with much respect.

    “On the veracity of the allegation, there’s the urgent need for the Federal Government to properly align all the diverse stories and myth surrounding the emergence, training, sponsorship and funding of Boko Haram in the interest of our National security , and in order to realistically checkmate the scourge. This is yet another dimension to Boko Haram, which appears diametrically conflicting with previous editions.

    A senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde said the President has superior access to intelligence report. So, if that is from his intelligence report, we cannot fault it”.

    “As the President, he owes a duty to protect all Nigerians. So, if we have foreigners invading our farmlands and killing our people, then the President is the one to put the necessary machinery in place since they have confirmed to him that these killers are foreigners.

    It is not a question of stiffer immigration laws. How can you apply immigration laws to people who just rear cattle across borders that have no security? They just walk in and walk out.

    “So, how does an immigration law affect them? I think this is a security issue and the President as the Commander-in-Chief must take steps to keep the oath he swore to protect the lives of all Nigerians”, Ayorinde said.

  • Uproar in Senate over Buhari’s linkage to killer-herdsmen to Gaddafi

    THE Senate was yesterday thrown into confusion over President Muhammadu Buhari’s claim that killer- herdsmen marauding in parts of the country were trained by the late Libyan leader, Muammar Gadaffi.

    It took spirited attempts by Senate President Bukola Saraki to bring the situation under control.

    Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe stoked the fire, when he drew the attention of the upper chamber to what he described as the unbecoming statement of Buhari in London on Wednesday.

    The President was quoted to have told the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, in Abuja House in London that the killer-herdsmen terrorising the country were trained and armed by the late Gadaffi.

    The President was reported to have added that when Gadaffi was killed, the gunmen escaped with their arms to parts of West African countries, including Nigeria.

    “We encountered some of them fighting with Boko Haram,” Buhari was quoted to have told Welby.

    Abaribe appeared to have been offended by the president’s declaration linking Gadaffi to herdsmen attacks.

    The Abia South lawmaker wondered why Buhari was still being indulged after what appeared consistent signs of weakness to protect the country.

    Abaribe said: “This chamber has discussed the killings in Nigeria. I recall that on the matter of herdsmen and farmers’ clashes, two explanations were given by highly ranked security personnel. The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, said these killings were as a result of laws being passed by states.

    “Secondly, the Defence Minister, Mansur Dan-Ali, said these killings were as a result of the blockage of grazing routes. And we continued to look at all these explanations.

    “Yesterday, in London, the Commander-in-Chief and President of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, said these killings were as a result of the people who were trained by Muammar Gaddafi.

    “Mr. President was implying that these people, who are doing the killings in Nigeria, are invaders from outside of Nigeria.

    “If so, it validates my point in this chamber that when a Commander-in-Chief says he cannot take care of invaders, why is he still a Commander-in-Chief?

    “Why do we still continue to indulge this President that goes around to tell everybody outside this country that he is totally incompetent? It is obvious…”

    Some senators found Abaribe’s choice of words distasteful and hard on the President. Intense murmuring ensued as some senators attempted to shout Abaribe down.

    Abaribe stood his ground and insisted on having his way.

    Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan promptly raised a Point of Order to cut Abaribe short.

    Lawan raised Order 53 (7) on the need to avoid the use of offensive words in the Senate.

    He said: “The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the leader of this country and deserves the respect and courtesy of this chamber and those of us in it. I was once a member of the opposition and I do not recall ever calling the then President incompetent or insult him. This is our institution. If we do not conduct ourselves with respect, nobody will. I want to ask my colleague to immediately withdraw his statement and apologies to this chamber.”

    Saraki asked Abaribe to be guided as an elder-statesman.

    He said it was obvious that Abaribe used certain words that were unacceptable.

    The Senate President asked Abaribe if he had concluded his submissions as tempers continued to rise in the chamber.

    He added: “We can make our points without using words that are offensive. Please be guided accordingly.”

    Abaribe, who seemed to be determined to push to the end, said: “I am very well guided by you but there are words that there are no alternatives to. What I did was to interpret the words by Mr. President in London. If any word I used is misunderstood by anyone, I apologise.

    “What I am saying is simple. The heads of security in Nigeria made several explanations for the killings of our people. It shows that there is a disconnect…”

    Fresh rounds of discord in the chamber did not allow Abaribe to conclude.

    Saraki responded to douse the rising tension.

    “Leader came with a Point of Order and you have complied by an apology. Have you finished?

    Before Abaribe could take the floor, Deputy Leader Bala Ibn Na’Allah raised another Point of Order also aimed at stopping the Abia South lawmaker from continuing on his line of action.

    Na’Allah said senators are forbidden by the rule to discuss the conduct of the President or judicial officers without a substantive motion.

    Saraki sustained Na’Allah’s Point of Order to halt Abaribe’s submission.

    Some senators were seen crowding Abaribe’s seat after Saraki ruling in apparent move to prevail on him to sheath his sword.

    Saraki quickly signal on Senate Leader to move to the next item on the Order Paper.

     

     

  • Buhari links Gadaffi’s hit men with killer-herdsmen

    Who are the killer-herdsmen? They are gunmen trained by the late Libyan President Muammar Gadaffi, President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday.

    The President spoke at the Abuja House in London when Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby visited him.

    The gunmen, he said, escaped into Nigeria and other West African countries after Gadaffi’s death.

    He spoke, even as suspected herdsmen killed 13 people in Benue and Nasarawa states on Tuesday.

    Responding to Welby’s comment on the herdsmen and farmers’ clashes in some parts of the country, Buhari said: ”The problem is even older than us. It has always been there, but now made worse by the influx of gunmen from the Sahel region into different parts of the West African sub-region.

    “They were trained and armed by Muammar Gadaffi of Libya. When he was killed, the gunmen escaped with their arms. We encountered some of them fighting with Boko Haram.

    “Herdsmen that we used to know carried only sticks and maybe a cutlass to clear the way, but these ones now carry sophisticated weapons. The problem is not religious, but sociological and economic. But we are working on solutions.”

    The President said “irresponsible politics” had been brought into the farmers/herders’ crisis, promising that enduring solutions would be found, and justice done to all concerned.

    He said he declared his second-term bid on Monday before his London trip because many Nigerians were “talking too much” about whether he was going to run or not.

    A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, quoted him as saying: ”I declared before leaving home because Nigerians were talking too much about whether I would run or not.

    “So, I felt I should break the ice. We have many things to focus on, like security, agriculture, economy, anti-corruption, and many others. We needed to concentrate on them, and politics should not be a distraction.

    “The majority of Nigerians appreciate what we are doing, and that is why I am re-contesting.”

    On Leah Sharibu, the Dapchi schoolgirl still being held by insurgents, reportedly because she refused to renounce her faith, the President said: ”We are managing the matter quietly. Making noise would not help. We are collecting as much intelligence as possible, working with the Red Cross and other international organisations.

    “There are too many fraudulent people around, who claim they can do this and that. We won’t deal with them. That was how we got the Dapchi girls back, and the Chibok girls.”

    The President also recounted some successes of his administration, especially in agriculture.

    “We have cut the importation of rice by about 90%, saving billions of dollars in the process. People who rushed into petrol money have now gone back to agriculture. Even professionals have gone back to the land. Nigeria should be able to feed itself comfortably soon. I am so pleased,” he said.

    On the war against insurgency, he stressed the need for continuous education of the people, “so that they can be free from religious manipulation,” adding that no true religion advocates the hurting or killing of the innocent.

    Archbishop Welby said it was always a delight to see President Buhari, “whom I have tremendous respect for,” adding: “You have my best wishes on your recent decision. I read your declaration speech. We are neutral as a church, but we will pray for you. Great statesmen are those who run for the good of their country. We will be praying for you.”

    The Archbishop presented President Buhari with a copy of his recent book: “Reimagining Britain. Foundations for Hope.”

  • Army draws battle line against killer-herdsmen

    ‘Stop or face decisive action’

    Herdsman held with AK47 rifle

    The Army has warned killers to stop their evil act or “face decisive action by troops”.

    It also warned that commanders who fail to act decisively would “face court martial”.

    Killings have persisted in Taraba, Benue and Adamawa states, despite the ongoing operation “Cat Race”.

    No fewer than 24 people were killed in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State last week in attacks by herdsmen. There was a resurgence of violence in Plateau State where between Wednesday and Saturday 25 people, including a family of five, were killed. But the police put the figure of the dead at 16.

    Army spokesman Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu said the army and other security agencies were working assiduously to identify and arrest all those involved in those acts, “regardless of their disposition in the society, including government functionaries”.

    Gen. Chukwu said the attention of the army had been drawn to the continued disturbing, senseless killings and wanton destruction of properties in the three states and “strongly warns the perpetrators of these crimes to desist forthwith”.

    “We would like to unequivocally reiterate that the Army Headquarters warns the arsonists and the killers to stop or face decisive action by troops.

    “Our Rules of Engagement (ROE) are clear on arson and murder. Therefore, no such criminal acts would be allowed in any of the aforementioned states.

    “The public is please reminded that when troops are called out for internal security operations, they are not to joke or persuade anyone.

    “We have warned our commanders on the ground to take decisive actions or face court martial.”

    Gunmen suspected to be Fulani militia invaded Daffo village in Bokkos Local Government of Plateau State, killing among others five members of Rev. Bitrus Ishaya’s family. The victims have been buried in two mass graves.

    An eyewitness, Jerry Datim, said: “I was part of the rescue team. Those killed are 25.

    “This very attack was a fallout of the January conflict in Daffo between the youths and the Fulani; the Fulani vowed reprisal. So, on March 7, the Fulani numbering about 200 and fully armed, stormed the village at about 11:30pm. Some were dressed in black; others in red. After the attack, we recovered five bodies of victims.

    “Rev. Bitrus Ishaya, his entire family was completely wiped out during the attack, including Stephen Ishaya, Patrick Ishaya, John Monday. We buried the five bodies we recovered last Friday. With the assistance of Mobile policemen, we recovered seven more bodies. The total number of bodies we recovered at the weekend is 25 and they have been buried in two mass graves in Daffo.”

    A group of concerned members of the Ronkulere ethnic group in Daffo, who also confirmed the attack at a news conference in Jos yesterday, said the last attack by the Fulani militia was carried out on March7 and 8.

    Ambassador Adams, said:  ”The gunmen unleashed mayhem on people of Fahrundonghai hamlet and environs of Daffo district.

    “This is one attack too many; we have had enough of these killings. This act of senselessness and share disregard for our kindness and hospitality as well as our respect for law and order must stop. Government should step in and stop these killings.

    “We have the records of such killings in 2013, 2015 to the extent that our paramount ruler the Saf Ron Kulere was killed in 2016 in a similar manner. We will be compelled to petition the United Nations if the Nigerian security are not ready to protect us from these gunmen.

    “More than 400 residents have been displaced because their houses have been razed by the attackers, families food stuff  have been razed down and those displaced will not be able to prepare their farm land for the farming season, this is a serious disaster in our communities.

    “We have so far recovered 25 bodies of victims and many more are still missing, we can’t find their bodies.”

    The group said two suspects were arrested by men of the special military task force “Operation Safe Haven”. But the federal troops denied such arrests.

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has promised not to rest until every life in the state is secured. Commissioner for Information Yakubu Dati, in a statement, said: “Plateau State Government has given a marching order to the security agents in the state to immediately arrest and prosecute the criminals that perpetrated the killings of a couple of persons in Bassa and Bokkos Local Government Areas of the state.

    “Governor Lalong believes that our differences are better resolved by sitting together to address them rather than taking arms against one another.

    “He warned that the state will not fold its arms and watch the enemies of Plateau take us back to the dark old days when citizens distrusted one another, adding that we must emphasize the great values that unite us as a people.

    “While condoling with the families that lost their loved ones in the attacks, the Governor assured that urgent steps are being taken in collaboration with the security agents to get to the roots of the problem, and to avoid the repeat of the ugly incident.”

    The Police said they had arrested a herdsman with a military AK 47 rifle.

    Plateau police spokesman Terna Tyopev gave the rifle’s number as HC2614.

    He said the herdsman, Muhammadu Musa Bimini, was arrested by riot policemen on Thursday at Daffo.

    Tyopev, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the suspect had been transferred from Bokkos to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Jos and was already being interrogated.

    The police spokesman said 16 people were confirmed killed in the multiple attacks on several villages between Wednesday and Friday.

    He said the command had deployed more personnel to restore peace to the trouble areas, and advised the people to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their hands.

    Meanwhile, leaders of the affected communities have said that 25 people were killed in the attacks.

    The community leaders, who briefed newsmen on Sunday in Jos, said that many others were still missing.

     

  • Oyo police to fish out killer-herdsmen

    Oyo police to fish out killer-herdsmen

    The Oyo State Police Command has pledged to arrest all suspects in connection with the killing of an operative of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) by suspected herdsmen.

    The Commander of a SARS team, Sheu Magu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), was reportedly killed by suspected herdsmen as operatives of the security agency attempted to disarming the herdsmen for allegedly terrorising residents of Saki.

    Police Commissioner Abiodun Odude told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital, in a telephone interview that more suspects would still be arrested.

    He said: “The police command had arrested four suspects in connection with the killing, but we promised more will go in for it.

    “Investigation into the root of the matter has just started.

    “We have earlier arrested four suspects and we are going to get more suspects in connection with the killing of the SARS operatives.”

  • Killer herdsmen: No protest will stop Osinbajo’s panel — Presidency

    Killer herdsmen: No protest will stop Osinbajo’s panel — Presidency

    The Presidency yesterday said that the reported protest against some members of the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s committee on herdsmen/farmers clashes will not stop the committee from performing its assignment.

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association was reported to have rejected the Osinbajo panel because of the inclusion of the Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom and Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku on the panel.

    The two state governors are strong supporters of the anti-grazing laws in their states.

    Their communities have been attacked by killer herdsmen, resulting in the death of some Nigerians with injuries to many, while others were displaced from their communities.

    The Osinbajo committee was set up by the last meeting of the National Economic Council towards finding a solution to the killings in the affected communities.

    Speaking with The Nation, the Vice President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Laolu Akande, said the committee was set up in the interest of all Nigerians, especially the affected communities and parties in the crises.

    Stressing that the interest of the administration is to ensure peace and security, he said the Osinbajo panel would leave no stone unturned to ensure peace and security of life and property in the affected communities.

    He said: “Our job is to all Nigerians, and in this case, all the affected parties and communities. The interest of the administration is peace and the first duty of government is to provide peace and security of life and property.

    “So we note the views of all and welcome their right to their own positions. Government will also do its job to secure the wellbeing of all Nigerians, including those who have expressed their opinions.

    “The Working Group has met once already and would continue to meet to ensure that all Nigerians live in peace and security.

    “The Group is made up of elected governors including those whose communities are affected.

    “And we should not forget that all those serving in states as governors and the Federal Government have sworn to protect the constitution.

    “That is the guarantee by law that their actions would be fair and without fear or favour.

    “This crisis and the misunderstanding that attends it would be over under the Buhari administration by the special Grace of God.” he stated.