No Holiday for Embattled Christians in Benue State Fighting Bandit-Terrorists
By Mike Odeh James and Ekani Olikita
(Makurdi) They woke up on Sunday morning of November 24, 2024 with the intention of going to Church to worship God and never knew it would be their last day on earth.
This was the experience of 13 Christians worshippers gruesomely murdered on Sunday morning at about 7 am (6 hour GMT) as Fulani terrorists attacked Azege, Mbaya, and Tombo, in Logo County in the Nigerian North Central State of Benue. Even worse, at least 17 other farm folk were cut down by terrorists in nearby Katsina-Ala County on Sunday and Monday Nov. 24-25 by armed mercenaries speaking the language of the Fulani tribe.
Whereas Americans are celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday, the Christians in Nigeria’s warzones never get a holiday from Islamist invasions.
Citizens of villages in the Katsina-Ala and Logo local government areas of Benue State are hiding in the bush or sheltering at IDP camps in Makurdi, after armed mercenaries of the Fulani tribe killed at least 30 people and left many others injured in two counties of Benue. The village invasions began over the weekend, targeting communities that had previously been attacked, reported Emmanuel Kwada for TG News.
Attacks, kidnappings and Killings by Fulani terrorists in collaboration with local bandits have heightened recently in Katsina Ala and Logo County.
TruthNigeria had reported the killing of scores when Fulani terrorists attacked Ayilamo, Tombo Precinct Headquarter on October 9, 2024 and the gruesome murder of 17 people in another Fulani attack on Anyiin, all in Logo County in Benue’s northeast region.
Logo, Ukum and Katsina-Ala are the three restive Benue Northeast counties referred to as “Sankera,” plagued by activities of Fulani Jihadists and armed local bandits working as mercenaries for the Fulani militias.
In collaboration with Traditional Rulers and Sankera Stakeholders, Bishop Isaac Dugu, the Archbishop of Katsina-Ala Catholic Diocese has succeeded in separating the local bandits from their Fulani gang employers by making peace agreements with them. Most are complying and leaving their hideouts en masse, TruthNigeria has reported.
Peace Agreements Not Signed by Fulani Tribal Militia
But the hapless residents of Katsina-Ala and Logo Counties were massacred from over the weekend because peace agreements signed with the mercenaries didn’t include Fulani tribal militia, whose mission for years has been to cleanse the territory of non-Fulani residents.
The Fulani, a group known across West Africa for cattle-herding and involvement in regional jihad wars, have been linked to thousands of massacres in Nigeria. According to the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa, the Fulani marauders have been responsible for 55,000 deaths in Nigeria during the last four years.
Inhabitants of Azege Community speak
Confirming the latest attack on Azege precinct in a phone interview with TruthNigeria Correspondent, Zaki Felix, a citizen of Logo County, said, “13 corpses of those killed have been recovered. 12 were discovered earlier on Sunday shortly after the attack and 1 was discovered in the late hours of same Sunday, making a total of 13,” Felix said.
“They were killed Sunday morning at about 7 am local time while on their way to their church for Sunday worship,” Felix went on to say.
“Azege Mbaya is my mother’s village and was deserted after earlier attacks by Fulani terrorists and was being occupied by Fulani Land grabbers. Most of the people killed just returned back few weeks ago not knowing that death was already waiting for them.
“After missing church for so long as a result of insecurity, they decided to go attend this week Sunday mass but unfortunately, the terrorists had already laid ambush before them along the road because they knew they people must be in the church,” Felix told TruthNigeria.
Corroborating Felix’s narrative in a phone interview with former Chairman of opposition People Democratic Party (PDP) in Logo County, the Hon Raymond Akahaan, condemned the attack, calling on the government to take a decisive action to end the lingering carnage.
More than half of Tombo land including Azege is under Fulani occupation and constant attacks, according to Akahaan. “Not quite long ago the people started returning home,” he said, adding, “the 13 people that were murdered relocated to Ayilamo for many months and just returned to Azege some weeks ago only to meet their untimely death.”
The former Chairman of Logo County and Community Leader, the Hon Terseer Agber while reacting to the attack in an interview with TruthNigeria Correspondent expressed his frustration with the seeming endless attacks on his people by Fulani terrorists in Azege.
“Yes, there was another attack on Azege Community on Sunday and more than 13 people were killed in the attack,” Agber said.
“I am tired, and I will no longer accept any interview on insecurity in Logo since those at the helm of leadership in the county have refused to listen to the cry of the people and our advice”, Agber said.
County Chairman yet to visit Azege
As at the time of filing this report, 24 hours after the unprovoked attack and killing, Logo County Chairman, Hon Clement Kav was yet to visit Azege Community and a call to his phone line was not answered.
Mrs Catherine Anene, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benue State Police Command confirmed the attack but however said, “the Command is yet to be briefed officially”.
Mike Odeh James and Ekani Olikita are Conflict Reporters with TruthNigeria
