Outrage as Fulani herdsmen kill 36 residents, college students in Benue

Fulani herdsmen have attacked Shikaan Mbagena Kpav, a TIV community in Benue State, killing at least 36 residents including students of the College of Education in Katsina Ala.

According to SaharaReporters, the Fulani attackers stormed the community in the early hours of Thursday, and carried out the massacre.

The incident has sparked outrage among Nigerians on social media who condemned the ongoing silent “genocide” under the current administration.

There are conflicting figures of casualties as some believed the attackers might have killed up to 100 residents.

Nigerians are reacting with the hashtag, #BenueUnderAttack, and lamenting the ineptitude of the federal government and security agencies to address the situation of the killer herdsmen.

A Twitter user wrote; When Israel and Palestine were at war for about eight days, the world was alarmed and everybody was shouting but in Nigeria, serious genocide is ongoing against Christians in total blackout of the press, in Benue today this is what fulani herdsmen killed over 100 people, the world is quiet.

Another tweeted; I write this in Tears, Pain and Anguish. I have a few questions that deserve answers: What have the TIV people done? What have our ancestors done wrong that we haven’t been told to at least beg for forgiveness on their behalf? Pls Retweet to the World to see.

https://twitter.com/ChiefTerhemba/status/1395696535724347396?s=19

#Fulani herdsmen: Open grazing of herdsmen have been banned in South West states.

Open grazing of herdsmen have been banned in South West states, Nigeria. Oyo state governor, Engr Seyi Makinde revealed this via his tweets as follows;

” Today, the SW governors held a security stakeholders’ meeting in Ondo State. The meeting was attended by our brother governors from Kebbi and Jigawa States; security chiefs, SW zone led by the AIG Zone 11 and leaders from the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria.”

“Collectively, we resolved to ban open grazing in all parts of the south west. In Oyo State, we already have a law against open grazing which will continue to be implemented by our security agencies.”

“I restated that we will not permit criminality as a response to criminal actions. Instead we will continue to support our security agencies to do their duties. Also, we will work with our people to face our common enemies – the criminals; kidnappers, armed robbers and bandits.”

#Fulani Herdsmen Ban: We’ll Take The Next Step Today – Akeredolu.

The governor had also banned night grazing and outlawed underage herders as part of his administration’s effort to stop kidnapping in the state.

The Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, has said the state government will take ‘the next step’ in line with the quit notice issued to the herders in Ondo forest reserves.
The governor had also banned night grazing and outlawed underage herders as part of his administration’s effort to stop kidnapping in the state.

The Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo said the state government “will wait for the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum handed down to the herdsmen occupying the forest reserves before it will know the next step.”

SaharaReporters gathered the South West States’ governors would meet (today). There has been an uproar following the quit orders given to Fulani herders by governor Akeredolu and a youth leader in Oyo State, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known Sunday Igboho.

Igboho was indicted in the recent attack on Fulani communities at Iganga, Ibarapa LGA of Oyo state.

Afenifere reacts as ACF asks FG to stop attacks on Fulani in South-West to prevent another civil war.

Afenifere says the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) cannot threaten the south-west with a civil war.

Following the call by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on the Federal Government to stop attacks on Fulani communities in South-west to prevent another civil war, Yoruba sociopolitical group, Afenifere has told the ACF not to threaten the region with a war.

On Friday, January 22, 2021, some cars and houses inhabited by the Fulani at Igangan in the Ibarapa Local Government Area of Oyo state were set ablaze after a Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho and his supporters stormed the town.

Two people reportedly died due to the subsequent clash between Yoruba youths and the Fulani in the area.
Reacting to the incident in a statement, Emmanuel Yawe, the National Publicity Secretary of the ACF said such act may destabilise the country. He added that the civil war started with such attacks.

The statement reads in part: “The Arewa Consultative Forum this morning received reports of an attack by Yoruba Youths on Alhaji Saliu Abdulkadir, the Serki Fulani in Oyo State.
“In the reports, he was attacked and driven out of his house, eleven cars and his house burnt with his family members now living in the bush.

There are allegations that one Sunday Igboho an agitator for Oodua Republic and who issued an ultimatum giving Fulani people seven days to leave Yorubaland is the instigator of the attack.

“The most disturbing aspect of the attack is the allegation that the security agents who were earlier warned about its imminence stood by helplessly as the attack was carried out.

“The ACF is worried about this trend and calls on the Federal and State Governments in the South West to move quickly to avert a social upheaval that may destabilize the whole country.

“We recall that the civil war in the 60’s started with attacks and counter-attacks like this. The governments must be proactive and stop history from repeating itself.

However, Afenifere has described the ACF’s statement as insulting and arrogant.

The National Publicity Secretary of the group, Yinka Odumakin the ACF cannot threaten the south-west with a civil war.

“While we have gone to a great length to sue for peace and have appealed to our pained people to be law-abiding even with the daily provocations of the Fulani and harassment of our people, we frown at the very arrogant and insulting ACF statement, especially their reference to the event of 1966.

“We must make it clear to them that they cannot threaten us with a war at this stage as we will not provoke war but never are we going to run for anybody on our land.

“We are miffed that a body like ACF that has never shown any remorse over the killing of our people can open their mouths anyhow now because there are consequences for the irresponsible actions of their people,” Odumakin said.

Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police, Adamu Mohammed has ordered the arrest of Igboho over the eviction notice he issued to herdsmen in Oyo.

The IGP has reportedly directed the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Ngozi Onadeko to arrest Igboho and transfer him Abuja.

Two dead as herdsmen clash with Sunday Igboho’s supporters in Oyo

Two people have been confirmed dead while several others were injured in a clash between some herdsmen and supporters of Oyo State-based activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, in Igangan in the Ibarapa North local government area of the state on Friday.

It was gathered that Igboho’s supporters who have vowed to chase the herdsmen out of the state, stormed a Fulani settlement in the town to eject the Seriki Fulani, Salihu Abdukadir, and some other herdsmen accused of fuelling security problems in the area.

In the ensuing clash, two people were reportedly killed while others were seriously injured, with properties worth several millions of naira destroyed.

Eyewitnesses says those who died were herdsmen while some youths in the Igboho camp sustained injuries from gunshots.

Confirming the attack, Abdulkadir narrated how his house and property were set ablaze by the rampaging youth during the attack.

Abdulkadir said that he, his wives and children were sent out of the settlement, adding that 11 vehicles and houses were burnt in the process.

“As we speak, we are in the bush. Our cars, numbering about 11, have been burnt. Some of my children sustained injuries, and we are looking for a way to get them to the hospital. My children have left their houses for the bush. We need the government to help us. The Police, Operation Burst and other security agencies were there when they set my house ablaze,” Abdulkadir lamented.

Also confirming the incident, the state Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Alhaji Ibrahim Jiji, said:

“As we usually say, not all Fulani people are evil. Good people are among us. What can we call this now? The Serikin Fulani is a good man who has done a lot to bring peaceful coexistence between the Fulani people and the Yorubas but see how he was treated. We need the government to act now.”

Jiji also confirmed that one of the person killed was a Fulani woman. He added that he had fled the town before Igboho and his gang arrived the settlement on Friday.