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Herdsmen from Libya, Mali, Others Still Killing Benue People, Ortom Cries out

Published

3 years ago

January 23, 2022

Buhari: I will crush terrorists before I hand over in 2023
ACF seeks urgent action against criminal acts in schools

Benue State Governor, Dr Samuel Ortom has raised the alarm that herdsmen from Mali, Niger, Mauritania, Libya and Senegal were still maiming and killing the peace-loving people of his state.

However, President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to crush terrorists across the nation before he hands over power in 2023.

Buhari’s reassurance is coming as the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on governments at all levels to take urgent steps to stem the menace of anti-social and criminal acts going on in schools nationwide.

Also as part of the efforts to tackle banditry, the Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), maintaining peace in Plateau and parts of Kaduna and Bauchi states, has trained 103 youths on armed combat and intelligence gathering.

Speaking on ARISE NEWS Channel, Ortom however, disclosed that the strict enforcement of the state’s 2017 Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law has reduced the level of insecurity, pointing out that herdsmen now comply with the provisions of the law.

The state government had enacted the anti-open grazing law on May 22, 2017, to curb the nefarious activities of herdsmen carrying AK-47 rifles about the state, maiming peasant farmers, killing them and taking over their parcels of land.

But following the failure of the law to deter herdsmen from destroying farmlands and killing farmers, the Benue State House of Assembly amended the law, which was signed by the governor on Thursday with stiffer penalties against violators.

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Speaking on the amended legislation, Ortom acknowledged that all “is going well with the enforcement of the law except for the notorious criminal elements of Fulani herdsmen, who came from Mali, Niger, Mauritania, Libya and Senegal.”

Ortom noted that the intention of the criminal elements “is not for grazing or doing cattle business, but to send people away and take over their land.

“Currently, as I talk to you, those people who come around with AK-47 rifles, AK-49 rifles and other associated sophisticated weapons are not just here with cattle. These notorious elements come to kill or maim our people.”

The governor cited the plight of internally displaced persons (IDPs), who attempted to return to their homes and continue with their farming activities, but were attacked, maimed and killed.
He lamented that the activities of the notorious criminal elements “are part of the reasons we have still over 1.5 million IDPs in our camps across the state.

“The children, who are not going to schools, are not happy. The old men, who are forced to stay in these camps, are not happy. The camps we established here are not even standard. Sometimes, the camps are sited in the school environment.

“The one close to a standard camp is what we have in Makurdi here. The General Theophilus Danjuma Committee constructed it to rehabilitate people. No person wants to live in this camp. But they are forced to live there.

“They want to go back. I am ready to provide logistics for them so that they can go back. But those who attempted to go back were maimed, killed and raped. These terrorist Fulani herdsmen amputated women’s hands.

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“The security personnel posted to Benue State have also done their best. But over 100 of them have been killed since 2017. If security personnel, who were trained with sophisticated weapons, were killed, what do you expect averaged farmers, who were displaced and in distress, to go back and do?”

The governor, thus, commended all security agencies including Operation Whirl Stroke, the Army, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the agro rangers for working hard to ensure compliance with the anti-open grazing law and maintaining relative stability in the state.

The governor disputed claims that the legislation “is targeted at Fulani herdsmen in the state. This amendment came as a result of those who felt they have enough money to pay fines or demurrages.

“The issue of the cattle business, as it is today in Nigeria, is not just being done because they have collected enough money. So, they are always ready to pay those meagre sums,” noting that the Tiv, the Igede and the Idoma are equally affected.

Within five years that it had been experimented, Ortom clarified that the law “is not targeted at Fulani herdsmen, Hausa, Jukun or Igbo. It is targeted at every person, including the indigenous people of Benue State.”

He noted that the state’s livestock guards have done well by arresting over 50,000 heads of cattle, while over 600 people were arrested for carrying out open grazing.

“These include the Fulanis, the Hausas, the Tiv, the Idoma and the Igede,” he added.

Thisday

Related Topics:Benue herdsmen killing Libya Mali Ortom

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Nigerian govt urged to intervene in Mozambique post-election violence

Published

12 seconds ago

December 29, 2024

Trends Admin

Nigerian govt urged to intervene in Mozambique post-election violence

Akinola Olunloyo, a Nigerian in Mozambique, has appealed to the Nigerian government to intervene in Mozambique’s political crisis following the confirmation of the ruling party’s victory in the October 9 elections.

He urged President Bola Tinubu to use his influence within the African Union to mobilise efforts to restore peace and stability in Mozambique.

In an interview with journalists on Sunday, Mr Olunloyo said the political unrest was fuelled by the actions of the opposition party, Podemos, through its candidate, Venâncio Mondlane.

Mozambique’s Frelimo has been the ruling party since 1975, when the country gained independence from Portugal.

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Mr Olunloyo, a businessman and resident of Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, for over 13 years, said many Nigerians were stranded with no means of escape.

“The incitement of violence by Podemos and its key figure, Venâncio Mondlane, has escalated tensions resulting in the loss of lives, destruction of businesses, and targeted attacks on foreign nationals, including Nigerians.

“These actions are not only causing untold suffering to Mozambicans but also putting the lives of Nigerians in jeopardy.

“Immediate intervention is critical to prevent further loss of life and to secure the safety of Nigerians in Mozambique,” he said.

He noted that the attack on foreigners and their businesses was because of the belief that the government benefited from foreigners.

Mr Olunloyo urged the presidency to take actions, including evacuation of Nigerians, to ensure their safety and diplomatic engagement with the Mozambican government to demand the protection of Nigerians and press for immediate de-escalation of violence.

He called on regional bodies and the African Union to demand accountability from Podemos and Mondlane for their role in inciting violence and destabilising the country.

Nigerian govt urged to intervene in Mozambique post-election violence

(NAN)

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Ex-minister says Nigeria doesn’t need France to destabilise Niger Republic

Published

4 minutes ago

December 29, 2024

Trends Admin

Femi Fani-Kayode

Ex-minister says Nigeria doesn’t need France to destabilise Niger Republic

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has dismissed claims by Niger Republic’s military leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, that Nigeria is collaborating with France and terrorist groups to destabilise the West African nation.

In a strongly worded statement shared on his verified Facebook page on Sunday, Fani-Kayode argued that Nigeria, if it wished to destabilise Niger, would not require assistance from France or any terrorist organisations.

“If Nigeria wanted to destabilise Niger Republic, I do not believe that we would need France or any terrorist organisation to do so,” Fani-Kayode stated.

He accused Western powers of backing terrorist groups in the West African region over the past 15 years, stressing that Nigeria has been a victim of such organisations and would never align with them.

“I have maintained that the Western powers are behind the terrorist groups that have plagued the West African sub-region over the last 15 years, and for the last ten years, I have publicly stated this and given my reasons,” he said.

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The former minister condemned Tchiani’s allegations that President Bola Tinubu and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu were working with France to sponsor terrorism in Niger, describing the accusations as baseless and provocative.

“Tchiani’s grave allegations that President Tinubu and NSA Nuhu Ribadu have been bought by the French to destabilise Niger Republic, that our Government is jointly sponsoring a terrorist group with France to do the same, and that there are French military bases in Nigeria are infantile, puerile, mendacious and asinine,” Fani-Kayode said.

He warned the Nigerien leader against making inflammatory statements that could strain relations between the two countries.

“The Nigerien Military Head of State, Abdourahamane Tchiani, would do well to be careful not to provoke our wrath with his absurd assertions and remain mindful of the fact that the defence budget for his country, Mali, and Burkina Faso combined is not up to 25% of Nigeria’s,” he added.

Fani-Kayode urged the Nigerian government to consider “more extreme measures” if the accusations from Niger persist, asserting that Nigeria has no obligation to show restraint in the face of such provocations.

Ex-minister says Nigeria doesn’t need France to destabilise Niger Republic

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Adeleke presents staff of office to new Owa-Obokun amid protest

Published

3 hours ago

December 29, 2024

Trends Admin

Oba Adesuyi Haastrup

Adeleke presents staff of office to new Owa-Obokun amid protest

ILESA — Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Sunday presented the staff of office to Oba Adesuyi Haastrup as the 41st Owa-Obokun of Ijesaland in a ceremony marked by mixed reactions.

Oba Haastrup’s selection follows the passing of the 40th Owa-Obokun, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, in September, after which the mourning period and succession process commenced. Last Friday, Prince Haastrup of the Bilaro Olu-Odo ruling house was elected by the Ijesa kingmakers and subsequently approved as the new monarch despite an existing court injunction restraining stakeholders from proceeding with the selection process.

At the installation ceremony, Governor Adeleke urged the new monarch to foster unity among Ijesa people and leverage his experience and connections for the development of Ijesaland and Osun State.

“Kabiyesi, now that the time of competition is over and you have become the father of all, I urge you to rally all citizens of Ijesaland for the development of the area and the State at large,” Adeleke said.

He emphasized the importance of collective efforts, stating, “There is much work to be done, and the Government alone cannot bear the responsibility. I call on all Ijesa sons and daughters to prioritise the development of our fatherland. Our administration is intensifying developmental efforts across the state, including Ijesaland.”

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The selection and installation of Oba Haastrup were met with opposition from two royal families, Ofokutu and Fajemisin, within the Bilaro Olu-Odo ruling house.

In a statement signed by Prince Adetoyese Adegbohungbe, Secretary of the Ofokutu royal family, the process was described as a desecration of Ijesa traditions.

“We have witnessed not just compromise but the desecration of the noble tradition of the Ijesa, with the blatant disregard for the most sacred tradition, which is the selection of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland,” the statement read.

The family expressed shock at the selection, citing a pending court case, and accused stakeholders of undermining due process.

The Fajemisin family also condemned the process, describing it as flawed and unlawful. In a statement by Olufemi Fajemisin, the family rejected Oba Haastrup’s selection and demanded a transparent process that respects Ijesa customs.