Militias Murder Farmers Breaking Peace Agreements Negotiated by Bishop
By Olikita Ekani
(Makurdi) The fragile peace enjoyed in Benue State since November has been violated as Fulda-speaking terrorists killed 11 persons in two precincts on Christmas Day.
The lives were lost in strife-torn Kwande County, (Local Governance Area) bordering Taraba State and Cameroon on Benue State State’s southeastern border. The precincts include: Anwase near Nyiev-ya in Mbaikyor Council Ward and Tse-Azege in Iyaav Council Ward in Turan Area of Kwande County.
Many residents also sustained life-threatening injuries and are currently receiving medical treatments in Adikpo, Kwande County Headquarter.
Turan Community is 15 km (9 miles) from Adikpo, Kwande County center, 163 km (101 miles) Southeast of Makurdi, the State capital, and 271 miles Northwest of Bamenda in Cameroon. The region is predominantly inhabited by the Tiv Ethnic group (Nigeria’s 4th largest group), who are 95 percent Christian.
Turan Communities had come under constant attacks by Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM) and 4 out of the 5 communities in Turan have been deserted and were firmly under FEM occupation until the recent State Amnesty program chaired by Bishop Isaac Bundepuun Dugu, the Archbishop of Katsina-Ala Catholic Diocese.
Early this year, Fulani terrorists killed 26 persons within a space of 45 days in Turan
Despite the relentless attacks, no decisive action has been taken by the Federal Government to end the carnage.
This latest attack is the first in several months and is in violation of the informal Peace Agreement negotiated by Bishop Dugu and Chairman of Agatu County Chairman, Melvin Ejeh James.
The program was aimed at convincing the local Tiv Ethnic Militia, hired by Fulani terrorists to carry out attacks, kidnappings and killings in Benue Northeast. The Bishop and Chairman James urged the armed gangs in Logo, Ukum and Katsina-Ala to drop their arms and embrace peace.
A verbal agreement championed by the Agatu county chairman called upon Fulani gang leaders to end killings in the state. The agreement was being observed until the latest carnage.
According to the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa (ORFA), the Fulani have been responsible for 55,000 deaths in Nigeria during the last four years.
Community Leaders confirm the attacks
Confirming the attack in a telephone interview with TruthNigeria, a Community Leader from Uzav in Turan Community and Former Senior Special Assistant to Former Governor of Benue State on Media, Honourable Solomon Amande said;” the Fulani terrorists invaded our community on Christmas Day during and after Church Service, killing anyone on sight and burning down houses”
“They began their attack from the mountainous area in Anwase, Mbaikyor Council Ward close to the Cameroonian border. The shooting continued to the edge of Government Secondary School Anwase. Ten (10) people were killed in this area,” he added.
“The terrorists also attacked Iyaav Council Ward, starting from Tse-Jam Crossing, resulting to the death of one person,” Amande went on to say.
“Four out of the five Council Wards in Turan are under siege and are under Fulani occupation. As I am talking to you, only Mbadura Council Ward that is still under our people’s control,” Amande said.
“During the last farming season this year, our people in collaboration with our local vigilantes, carried out clearance operations against the terrorists hiding in the bush so that our people could freely carry out their farming activities and it worked. But we never knew, the terrorists were regrouping and planning to attack our people on Christmas Day”, Amande said.
Commission of Police Iorbee Ihagh (retired), the President General of Nzough U Tiv (MUT), the umbrella of all the associations of Tivs worldwide, who also hails from Kwande, decried the recalcitrant attitude of the Fulani terrorists, describing the attack as unprovoked.
“It is true, 11 people were killed the Christmas Day attack and many are still missing,” Ihagh said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Benue State Police Command, Mrs Catherine Anene confirmed the attack to TruthNigeria but said it had not been reported officially to the Police Command.
“I got hint of the attack, but nobody has come out to report to our office”, Anene said.
No fewer than 2,728 persons including, women and children have been murdered in Turan community of Kwande county of Benue state due to ceaseless Fulani Jihadists’ attacks in 2022, according to the Association of Kwande Academia (AKA).
More than 65,000 children were also sent out of school during the attacks.
Olikita Ekani reports for TruthNigeria from Makurdi.
