Declare Fulani herdsmen invasion as insurgency, Benue elders tell Buhari"

Elders from Benue state have urged President Muhammadu
Buhari to declare Fulani herdsmen invasion of the state and
gruesome massacre of the people by the armed herders as act
of insurgency and the perpetrators labelled as terrorists to be
routed out by the military. “We observed that these invading
Fulani Herdsmen have been allowed to bear sophisticated assault
weapons unchallenged which is against all our extant laws. The
perpetrators and sponsors of such heinous crimes against
humanity must be brought to justice”. the elders said.

This was made known in a communiqué issued at the end of a
unity meeting held in Makurdi and attended by the leaders of Tiv,
Idoma and Igede. The elders noted that the meeting became
necessary following ‘the armed invasion and occupation of their
land by Fulani herdsmen and the wanton killing of their people,
destruction of homes and farmlands, raping of their wives and
daughters in 15 Local Government Areas out of 23 namely, Agatu,
Gwer East, Gwer West, Makurdi, Guma, Tarka, Buruku, Katsina
Ala, Logo, Ukum, Kwande, Oju, Obi and Konshisha’. Leaders and
elders of Mdzough U Tiv (MUT), Idoma National Forum (INF) and
Omi Ny’Igede, also rejected the proposed Town Hall Meeting by
the Federal Government, insisting that only an inclusive Judicial
Commission of Enquiry can unravel the root cause(s) of the
invasion of Benue by Fulani herdsmen and the gruesome
massacre of the people by the armed herders.

“The delay in setting up the Presidential Investigation Panel
promised by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is
becoming worrisome”. “The proposed Town Hall Meeting by the
Federal Government is not only diversionary, but a deliberate ploy
to downplay the degree of attention and seriousness that should
be accorded the invasion of our land. We wonder why the same
Government that promised to set up an investigation committee
is now resorting to a mere ruse called ‘Town Hall Meeting’.

“We observed that the Town Hall meeting held on the 24th day of
March, 2016 in Abuja by 1 Idoma Initiative with the Miyetti Allah
Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) during which
some major decisions were taken as detailed in a communiqué
did not have the mandate of major stakeholders in the crisis”.
The forum berated the inability of both the federal and state
government in addressing the menaces of the herders. It noted
that the Fulani Herdsmen and Farmers conflict in Benue State,
which started over two decades ago, has escalated from mere
conflict to an invasion and occupation agenda amounting to
terrorism.

They also complained that the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP)
camps are poorly managed, and the IDPs are living in very
deplorable conditions, with inadequate security arrangement and
acute shortage of relief materials, urging that a Victims Support
Fund should be established for rebuilding destroyed communities
with adequate compensations to families of victims. “The inability
of the President, the nation’s Army and Police Chiefs, and the
Governor of Benue State to visit the worst affected communities
of Agatu and the other aforementioned where recent mass
murder attacks were carried out for on the spot assessment of
the level of devastation indicates lack of seriousness deserving of
the crisis.

This assertion is supported by the careless utterances of
Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nassarawa State that the attacks
were mere “skirmishes” that could not be tagged genocide. This
is also demonstrated by the Inspector General of Police, Mr.
Solomon Arase who, with neither evidence nor a visit to any
affected area, claimed that the reported casualty figure of 300
dead people in the Agatu attack was exaggerated,” The forum
urged the FG to tighten security and put in place measures to
protect the country porous borders to prevent further continuous
and uncontrolled entrance of international criminal elements,
herdsmen and arms. They urged the National Assembly to
commence a public hearing on the Fulani herdsmen threat to
national security without delay while the state lawmakers should
enact laws to criminalize open grazing as it directly conflicts with
the livelihood of Benue people which is crop farming.

 “Our people
are predominantly farmers with fixed land and growing population,
we therefore, reject the idea of having open grazing lands and
cattle routes on our land to avoid any conflict as we do not have
sufficient land for that purpose. Government should encourage
those engaged in cattle rearing business to establish private
ranches in line with global best practices instead of the open and
uncontrolled grazing that frequently results in violent clashes with
farmers”. “The Benue State Government should as a matter of
urgency constitute an inclusive Judicial Panel of Enquiry for a
public hearing on the state of security in Benue State”. “The office
of the National Security Adviser should as a matter of urgency
address the nation on the state of insecurity in the country
particularly as it relates to the activities of Fulani Herdsmen”. “We
advise that all relevant government agencies saddled with the
responsibilities of home land security begin the process of
disarming Fulani Herdsmen across the country to avoid a counter
arms buildup by helpless communities in self defense”. “All
Herdsmen in Benue State should relocate immediately to allow our
farmers go to their farms without fear of being attacked as the
farming season approaches in order to avoid severe famine next
year”. “Our people and land owners particularly traditional rulers
and chiefs should hence forth stop leasing our land for grazing
purposes whether on a temporary basis or otherwise”. “Since
cattle are at the centre of these dastardly acts and are seen to
be superior to our lives, we have resolved to desist from
consuming beef or cow milk as an economic sanction and moral
responsibility”.

“Government should put in place infrastructure in form of good
access roads to facilitate easy access of security operatives to
these remote areas which are often subject of attack by these
marauders”. The forum called on the International community to
rise to their plight by enforcing their fundamental human rights in
the face of the incessant invasion of their land and killing and
maiming of their people.

The well-attended meeting was blessed with presence of the
Catholic Bishop of Gboko Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Williams Avenya
and that of Katsina-Ala Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Adobo to
give their fatherly advice. The communiqué was jointly signed by
Chief Edward Ujege, President-General of Mdzough U TIV (MUT),
Dr. Okopi Momoh, President of Idoma National Forum (INF) and
Chief Ode Enyi, President-General of Omi Ny Igede.