Hundreds of Tiv farmers in Taraba State have been killed and thousands severely injured in clashes with Fulani herdsmen. Survivors relived their physical and emotional torment, when Senior Correspondent FANEN IHYONGO visited their camps
They looked hungry, weak and ill. Some looked terrified and emotionally drained. Many were unable to speak. They sleep on the floor in stuffy relief camp rooms. Mosquitoes bite them every night. Tiv farmers of Taraba State who survived the Fulani attacks are having the worst of times in their camps.
They used to till the land, using the proceeds to look after their families. They supplied the markets with yams, maize, soya beans, guinea corn, rice and cassava, among others.
Farming was their life. Now, their means of livelihood is cut off and they have become destitute, terrorised in the central district of the state which they call home. Today, their Fulani neighbours who once made jokes and merriment with them, have become their assailants and killers.
“I don’t know the meaning of existence anymore,” one of the victims told this reporter.
They have become endangered species in their own state. Some of them wonder if they are seen as aliens.
Since the beginning of this year, Fulani insurgents, sometimes perceived to be largely mercenaries, reportedly numbering over 6,000 besieged the southern and central districts of the state. Tiv villagers became their prey. The insurgents, sometimes clad in military camouflage, attacked anytime of the day or night. They have killed thousands of Tiv farmers, wounded many more and forced the rest from their homes. Not a few Tiv women and girls have been raped and degraded by the herdsmen.
Even in the relief camps the victims are afraid of discussing what has befallen them for fear of divulging information to perceived spies from the enemy camp.
Little children who found something to eat were seen playing; some were crying but many generally looked pale and ill.
Two children and a woman were said to have died, added to the 14 who passed on earlier. They reportedly died of hunger and disease. Their bodies were seen being evacuated, but no one could say exactly where they would be buried.
An 82-year old man was said to have lost his mind in the camp after reportedly losing his wife and four children to Fulani attacks. Their assailants allegedly burnt them alive in a house where they were hiding.
Members of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and SEMA, the state arm of the organisation, brought relief materials but they could not serve even a quarter of the camp population in the five locations. Concerned officials from the local government council also prepared food for weak children but the Fulani militia broke into the camp demanding to be served first. The invaders took the food away with a promise to attack the people in the evening if they remained in the camp. This reporter saw the camp officials pleading with the marauders to have mercy on the children. They did not. The camp’s location near a police station did not deter them.
Bem Iorleva, 36, has been sleeping in the bush. He furtively goes to the camp only at noon hours to see his people. But these days he could not go as the militants reportedly began to trail him. He is said to be among six on hit list of Fulani herdsmen. The six were reckoned to have incurred the wrath of invaders when they reportedly condemned and resisted their attack.
“They want to turn us from defencelessness to a worse state. Those of us who are of the active age, enlightened and have some sources of wealth are the major target; they want our heads by all means,” Iorleva said.
Iorleva who has a wife and three children, has been lucky to have escaped the slaughter, but his sources of livelihood have been wiped out.
“There is no safety even in the camps. The authorities have told us in clear terms they cannot protect us. You could be fetched and killed right there any time and nothing would be done,” he said.
He added that some of the culprits who were arrested by security agents have been released.
“We see them (their attackers) walking freely. They attack us in the villages, and yet they come here to torment us…Look at some of them (pointing to a group of four Fulani youngsters wearing black vests on one motorcycle).
Iorleva, a principal at Rock Foundation Primary and Secondary School, had also been operating a bookshop and a barbing shop to augment his income. One day, the bookshop and saloon were attacked and vandalised by Fulani assailants. His home in Mai-Haula and the 17-year-old school where he taught were reduced to rubble. His proprietor, Peter Terna Ukpo is also taking refuge in the bush.
Iorleva said: “Ukpo’s case is worse. They said they will butcher him if they see him.”
Popularly known as Orlando, Ukpo is the president of Tiv youths in Bali. He is said to have lost “everything” to Fulani fighters.
“Some of us would have been killed since, but for God. I had to run as I never did since I was born in order to escape death. They came with heavy weapons, some wielding guns, some long cutlasses and axes. They began to shoot and kill any Tiv person they sighted, without provocation.”
As the Tiv residents ran for their dear life, the attackers looted and set their homes ablaze.
Now, with the hellish life in the camps, the displaced want to leave for Benue where the bulk of their folks are, but transport fare is ptohibitive, even as some of them do not know where they are really going. The fare, per individual, from the camp St. Paul Catholic Church, Bali, to Zaki-Biam is N2000. From the camp to Gboko is N2,500 and N3,000 getting to Makurdi, the Benue State capital. Cargoes like a nine-inch mattress or a goat are charged N2000. So, one is left with the option of abandoning one’s bags of rice, groundnuts, corn, livestock and household appliances behind if one must survive.
Meanwhile, their attackers have continued to either take over their properties or destroy them. Even on the road, the Tiv are often attacked by herdsmen mounting roadblocks.
Some help has come for them, though. Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Darius Dickson Ishaku, has donated relief materials and cash to the displaced persons.
Darius, an architect, is from Takum Local Government Area of southern Taraba.
His representative, Stephen Ibrahim Agya said the donation, included wrappers, foodstuff and cash.
The traditional ruler of the Tiv in Bali, HRM David Gbaa, received the items on behalf of the displaced. Gbaa who praised the minister for the gesture said he would share the materials fairly among the five camps in Bali where the displaced are taking refuge.
Agya added that the minister is making an arrangement to also assist displaced persons from Gassol and Ibi local government areas.
Agya said he stumbled on the victims fleeing their homes so he informed the minister who quickly disbursed funds and materials to alleviate their deplorable condition.
“I wept when I saw the Tiv victims in the camps. The old, women and kids; they looked stranded and emotionally wrecked. I saw their homes destroyed. It was pathetic.
So, when I phoned the minister (Darius) he was saddened over the development. He promptly empowered and directed me to provide relief to the victims,” Agya said, adding that Darius has condemned the attacks and killings.
In Bali where the minister donated relief materials, over 80 Tiv residents were gunned down and a Catholic catechist axed to death. Police said they recovered 46 bodies and that 6,086 houses were torched when they combed the area in search of the attackers.
“Many of our people are still missing,” said Torver, one of the 148,036 displaced persons taking refuge in Kungwana area of Bali.
