Slaughters Continue, But Hope Stirred by Mercenaries Surrendering to Brave Bishop
By Mike Odeh James and Olikita Ekani
(Makurdi) Wednesday wasn’t Christmas in Makurdi, capital of war-traumatized Benue State, but there was a buoyant mood in the air after people heard Donald Trump had gained reelection by a landslide.
At exactly 11 a.m. local time when the Presidential election results poured from the BBC, CNN, Aljazeera, France-24 showing Trump leading with 279 Electoral College votes against the 223 of Kamala Harris, the hallelujah chorus started to bubble up. People clustered at food stalls and bars across town chanting Trump’s name as they shared free drinks and food to friends to celebrate.
President Bola Tinubu congratulated President-elect Trump along with other world leaders on Wednesday as expected.
But the upwelling enthusiasm of ordinary folks spoke volumes. Speaking in an interview with TruthNigeria Correspondent, a Payment Operation System (POS), Operator, Gabriel Unah who couldn’t hide his happiness, said Benue will have peace when Trump takes over from January, 2025.
“Fulani Militia have been terrorizing our people for almost four years, but no action from President Joe Biden. He is like the president of the world, he should have ordered former President Buhari or Tinubu to take decisive action to end the carnage. If it had been Trump, the terrorists wouldn’t have had the guts to kill our people”, Unah said.
A motorcycle Rider, Danjuma Oloche, who also spoke with TruthNigeria said, Nigeria was more peaceful when Trump was the President of USA.
“He is coming to end Boko Haram terrorism, banditry and Fulani attacks in Nigeria. I can’t go to my village in Apa Local Governance Area (County) to access my farm because of constant Fulani attacks. With the emergence of Trump as the President of the United States, I will soon leave motorcycle riding and go back home”, Oloche enthusiastically said.
Terna Ordue, a beer parlor operator who relocated from Anyiin in Logo County to Makurdi due to insecurity said, that God had answered his prayer by bringing a God-fearing President to America.
“Trump is a true Christian, will stop Persecution of Christians all over the world. Logo County which I hail from will soon know peace through Trump”, Ordue said
The Horror vs. the Hope
But the fact is, the people of Benue, famous for its lush forests and productive farmlands, have seen scenes of horror and other-worldly hope during the last three weeks.
Attacks and killings by Fulani terrorists continue in different parts of Benue State, despite the stunning surrenders of armed gangs who had helped slaughter Benue farmers for years.
Wednesday, October 30, 2024, will forever be etched in the memories of Anyiin Community in Logo County, Benue State, as a night of unmitigated horror. As the sun dipped below the horizon and residents prepared for a peaceful night’s rest, Fulani terrorists struck with ruthless precision, transforming the once-peaceful village into a ghastly abattoir.
The carnage was relentless, with homes reduced to rubble and families torn apart. The once-thriving community became a scene of utter devastation, a testament to the senseless brutality of Fulani-tribe terrorists who had come to drive out every indigenous family from the town.
This was the second attack Fulani Jihadists had carried out on Logo County within the month of October. The earlier attack took place on October 9, 2024, during which well-armed Fulani militia invaded Ayilamo town, the headquarters of Tombo Council, killing scores of people.
The latest attack which began at 6:30 pm and lasted for more than 3 hours, killing of 17, injuring many, and with several declared missing.
Witnesses said 15 corpses were discovered on the morning of Oct. 30 and 2 were later discovered in the late hours of on Thursday.
According to the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa, Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM) have killed more Christians than Boko Haram in Nigeria.
Community Leaders Blame Security Agencies
A Former Chairman of Logo County, Hon Terseer Agber, said it was a well-coordinated attack in an interview with TruthNigeria.
“The well-coordinated attack began at 6:45 pm and lasted until 11pm, yet no reaction from any security agency,” Agber said.
“The youths who were guarding the community were overpowered because of the sophisticated firepower of the attackers, “Agber added.
“The attackers were Fulani terrorists and invaded our community from a nearby Arufu Community where the Jukun people are living.
“Fulani are hellbent to chase our people away and takeover our land,” Agber said.
“Similar attack took place at the outskirt of Anyiin (Ayilamo community) on the 9th of October, 2024 but both the Federal and State Governments have not deemed it fit to deploy security to protect our people since then,” Agber said.
Another Community Leader and former aide to the Governor of Benue State, Joseph Anawah, in an interview with pressmen, decried the attack, saying it was the second of its kind within October.
“Fulani terrorists unleashed terror on our people in Anyiin community on Wednesday in an operation which started at 6:32 pm, killing more than 15 people with many injured and several others still missing. This is the second time our people were killed in large number by Fulani terrorists within a month”.
“Please, the State and Federal Governments should please come and save our people”, Anawah cried out.
Federal Lawmaker blames Security Agencies for the attack
The Senator representing Benue Northeast Senatorial District, Barr Emmanuel Memga Udende has condemned the attack in strong terms, blaming security agencies for the lingering insecurity in Sankera.
In a Press Statement on Friday by his Special Assistant on Media, Jerry Iorngaem, the Senator expressed sadness over sustained attacks and senseless killing of the people due to the inability of Security Operatives to protect the people.
Senator Emmanuel Memga Udende who represents Benue Northeast has expressed deep condolences and sympathy to the people of Logo Local Government Area in Benue State following the devastating attacks that claimed numerous lives on Wednesday.
The Senator lamented the persistent attacks by Fulani militia herdsmen, emphasizing the security operatives’ failure to protect citizens despite repeated calls and resolutions by the National Assembly.
Senator Udende emphasized that these attacks, which left many injured, must be condemned by all persons of good conscience.
Signs of Hope
A sign of hope for Benue was the surrender of more than 400 armed bandit mercenaries who had assisted the Fulani-tribe terrorists from Oct. 15 to Oct. 25, according to clerics who spoke to TruthNigeria. The bandits were directly approached by Bishop Isaac Dugu, 55, of the Diocese of Katsina-ala, who approached the bandits in their forested redoubts in October. As reported by TruthNigeria but by few mainstream Nigerian media, several bandit kingpins responded to Bishop Gugu’s moral suasion and assurances that they would not be murdered by the Nigerian miliary after surrendering.
Another sign of hope is the breakthrough in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and armed banditry, when the Nigerian Navy, under “Operation Whirl Stroke”, arrested 13 Fulani terrorists responsible for the deadly attack on “Egwuma Precinct in Agatu County
“This bold move has instilled hope among Benue residents, who believe the Nigerian Military is finally taking decisive action against Fulani terrorists. “This is just the beginning; the Nigerian Army will definitely take action against those terrorizing Benue people,” says Usman James, a resident of Makurdi.
Mike Odeh James and Olikita Ekani are Benue natives and report for TruthNigeria.
