Herdsmen’s Killing Fields

It’s about time the threat posed by gun-wielding herdsmen in different parts of the country was addressed. Olawale Olaleye writes

Although the peace enjoyed in some communities in the past few weeks may not been quite remarkable, that the relative calm was however violated last weekend is cause for concern. Suspected herdsmen reportedly struck in Benue State, while in Kaduna State there was an attack, which claimed two herdsmen.

According to reports, suspected herdsmen attacked a community in Benue on Friday, and reportedly killed about 10 people in Mkgovur village in Buruku local government area. The crisis has since forced many in Buruku and neighbouring Gboko council area to flee their homes.

While the dust raised by this unprovoked attack was yet to settle, there was a report of an attack in faraway Kaduna State, which claimed two herdsmen. But the Kaduna development took an interesting twist as policemen quickly moved in and arrested the suspects, who claimed to have killed the herdsmen in self-defence.

Needless to say, however, that the Fulani herdsmen have been accused of constantly raiding and killing people in different communities across the country for many years, and oftentimes the basis for such attacks belies logic.

With violent attacks by herdsmen spreading to more parts of Nigeria, sometimes followed by reprisals, the concern about the need to nip the monster in the bud and as quickly as possible is therefore founded.

To understand the threat posed by this armed herdsmen, a recap of some of their activities suffices. On July 8, 2012, Senator Gyang Dantong and the Majority Leader of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr. Gyang Fulani died while attending the mass burial of about 50 victims of attack by Fulani herdsmen at Maseh village in Riyom. In September of same year, a Fulani herdsman was accused of murdering the Director of Personal management in Isoko North, Delta State.

On April 23, 2013, 10 farmers were killed in an attack in Mbasenge community, Guma, Benue State and on May 7, 2013, 47 mourners were gunned down in Agatu, Benue State while burying two policemen. On May 14, 2013, over 200 suspected herdsmen surround Ekwo-Okpanchenyi, Agatu, killing 40 people and on July 5, 2013, 20 people were killed in a conflict between Tiv farmers and herdsmen at Nzorov, Guma in Benue State.

On July 28, 2013, in retaliation of an alleged killing of 112 cows, suspected herdsmen invaded two villages in Agatu and killed eight villagers. On April 5, 2014, assailants believed to be herdsmen opened fire on community leaders and residents that were meeting in Galadima village, Zamfara State. At least, 200 people were reportedly killed with scores wounded.

An attack by some herdsmen on Onitsha Ukwuani in Ndokwa West, Delta State, in September 2015, left about three persons dead. On October 2, 2015, herdsmen raped, killed Ogun residents and farmers. Indeed, Ogun too has seen some attacks from the herdsmen lately.

In November 2015, herdsmen attacked Ulaja and Ojeh communities in Dekina, Kogi State and killed about 22 men and women, while on December 1, 2015 attacked and killed a man in Ofagbe community, Isoko area of Delta State.

On January 24, 2016, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Vunokilang Police Station in Girei, Adamawa State and 29 others were killed by suspected herdsmen. On April 8, 2016, suspected herdsmen kidnapped and killed Falae’s security guard at his Ondo State farm. And less than 10 days after the Falae abduction, gunmen numbering about five also abducted Oba Adebisi Obademi, the traditional ruler of Apaa-Bunu community in Kabba-Bunu, Kogi State.

Forty people reportedly died after an attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Uzo-Uwani, Enugu State on Monday, April 25, 2016 and as the killings continued herdsmen unleashed terror on Obiaruku community, Delta State on Wednesday, April 27, 2016.

Between 2011 and 2014, suspected herdsmen attacked dozens of communities across Nigeria, with Benue being the worst hit. The hometown of the late Tor Tiv IV, Alfred Akawe Torkula, in Guma was razed, while houses, food barns and farmlands were burnt and scores killed in other communities in the state.

These suspected herdsmen, wherever they may have come from, are believed to have so far killed about 1,269 persons, a number alarming enough to stir discontent in saner climes. Although efforts are being made to ensure the grazing bill comes alive, taming the menace of the herdsmen might have transcended such thinking as they are believed to have been infiltrated by bandits and terrorists, a situation that could explain the degree of hostility and mindless killings.

The number one responsibility of any government is the security of life and property of its citizenry. There is no doubting the fact that government has tried significantly to contain the general level of insecurity in the country with much progress recorded in the fight against Boko Haram, but the case of the herdsmen appears somewhat impossible with different swirling conspiracy theories. Government must therefore disabuse the minds of the people on these theories by enforcing security without fear or favour.