By Suleiman Adamu, Senior Defence Correspondent
MAKURDI, Benue — Alhaji Mohammed Risku, the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Benue State Chapter, has made a shocking revelation: he has claimed that unidentified gunmen dressed in military and paramilitary garb are responsible for the recent string of killings that have occurred in different communities throughout the state. These claims, given at a news conference in Makurdi, throw light on the rising violence that has killed many people, including native people and Fulani herdsmen.
Increased Violent Crime in Benue State
A wave of violence and bloodshed has shook Benue State in recent weeks, and stories of deadly attacks on villages are becoming alarmingly prevalent. Two weeks ago, there were 17 fatalities in Mbaikyaor, Gwer East Local Government Area. A week later, there were apparently 26 distinct attacks inside the same locality that resulted in the deaths of these persons. At least 31 Fulani people, including women and children, have died as a result of these attacks since the year’s beginning, according to the MACBAN chairman, who brought attention to the terrible toll of these crimes.
MACBAN’s Allegations:
Alhaji Mohammed Risku described in detail the terrifying ordeals that the Fulani herders went through when these mystery attackers attacked them. He claims that the offenders randomly attack both local farmers and herders, committing acts of violence that claim lives and kill livestock. He lamented the apparent inaction of joint military operations covering Benue and Nasarawa states, despite repeated reports of these attacks. Risku cited recent incidents, including the killing of 11 Fulani children near the Doma/Gwer West border areas and the murder of six herders in Gwer West, as evidence of the escalating crisis.
Call for Joint Security Committee:
MACBAN demanded that the state government form a special joint security committee in reaction to the increasing violence. This committee, which would be made up of Fulani herders, local farmers, and other interested parties, would coordinate efforts to improve internal security in communities that are at risk. Alhaji Ibrahim Galma, the secretary of MACBAN, emphasized the urgent need for government approval to address the prevailing security challenges effectively.
Government Response and Denial:
However, the state government has refuted MACBAN’s claims, with the Security Adviser to the governor on Internal Security, Joseph Har, asserting that he has not witnessed any killings of Fulani herders in the state. Similarly, the Command Public Relations Officer, SP Catherine Anene, stated that the police command was not aware of reports implicating gunmen in military uniforms. She urged both farmers and herders to formally document such incidents and submit them to the police for further investigation.
MACBAN’s claims of gunmen disguising themselves as military personnel add a worrisome dimension to the dilemma that Benue State is currently facing as it struggles with the scourge of violence and instability. The divergent accounts presented by MACBAN and the state administration highlight how difficult it is to resolve security-related issues in the area.
To ensure sustainable peace, therefore, it is imperative that security authorities, community leaders, and stakeholders work together in the face of these uncertainty. And Benue State can only expect to stop the violence and bring peace back to its beleaguered communities by taking coordinated measures and engaging in sincere conversation.
Discover more from Atlantic Post
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.
You must be logged in to post a comment.