Amnesty Agreements Between Authorities and Criminal Gangs Failed
By Olikita Ekani
(Makurdi), At least 15 Christians were reportedly killed, chiefly Catholics, following simultaneous attacks on Mbagena, Dikpo and Imande Gberihwa communities in Abaji-Kpav, Katsina-Ala County by armed Fulani Ethnic Militia, according to the Nigerian Tribune.
At least 11 bodies have so far been discovered, according to Aaron Festus, a Senior Legislative Aide to the Speaker of the Nigerian National Assembly and an indigene of Mbagena, one of the affected communities.
Festus, confirming the horrific attack in a phone interview with TruthNigeria Correspondent, condemned the attack but blamed Gov Alia for the escalating insecurity in Sankera and other parts of the State.
“The simultaneous attacks on our communities began at about 7 pm local time (18 Hour GMT) [March 8], I alerted security agencies and some of those working with the State, but nothing was done to thwart the attack.”
“As I am talking to you, 11 corpses have been discovered and more will still be recovered, because the Fulani Terrorists were shooting anyone on sight, many sustained life-threatening injuries and ran to the bush. Some were pursued to the bush, killed and many are still missing”, Festus told TruthNigeria.
The root cause of the conflict has been written off by academic observers as resulting from farmer-herder clashes over access to water and grazing land. Analysts at the International Committee on Nigeria cite the chief cause as persistent land-grabbing and ethnic cleansing of Christian residents by armed and radicalized Fulani Ethnic Militia. A complicating factor is that criminal gangs of the Tiv ethnicity have been hired to act as mercenaries on behalf of the Fulani Ethnic Militia, TruthNigeria has learned.
“The cause of the latest attack was that some local security personnel of the Community Guards of the State were sent to arrest all the cows roaming about, eating and destroying people’s farms in the attacked communities on that fateful day,” according to Festus. “They came, carried out the order and went away without any plan to protect the communities in case of any reprisal attack by Fulani herdsmen. As expected, the Fulani militia struck, killing anyone on sight,” Festus added.
“No day passes bye without attack or killing in Sankera, but Gov Alia is either denying or not doing anything about it and the insecurity keeps on escalating. Our people seriously need help’, Festus said.
This incident took place in the late hours of Saturday, March 8, 2025 when residents were retiring to their beds after a hectic day of farming activities.
Area-wide Attacks by Fulani Militia
Similar attacks by Fulani terrorists on Turan, Kwande County on Monday, March 3, 2025 and previous to that, some Ukum county communities on Saturday, March 1, 2025, resulted in the death of 2 and 6 persons respectively .
Katsina-Ala in the North Central Nigerian State of Benue is an agrarian County composed of 95-percent Christian farmers. Of these, 90 percent are observant Catholic, located 81 miles (131km) Northeast of Makurdi, the State capital and 252 miles (406km) Southeast of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. Benue State shares its eastern border with Takum county in Taraba State.
Katsina-Ala, Logo and Ukum are the three counties in Benue Northeast regarded as “Sankera,” where farming, business and other activities have been crippled due to persistent attacks, kidnappings and killings by Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM) and local Tiv Ethnic Militia (TEM).
An Amnesty program established by Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia, a former Catholic Priest, and chaired by Bishop Isaac Bundepuun Dugu of the Catholic Archdiocese of Katsina-Ala, succeeded in convincing the local Tiv Ethnic Militia to drop their arms and embrace peace. However, the amnesty agreement didn’t extend to the Fulani Ethnic Militia (Muslims) who are not residents of the State but who come from Taraba and Nasarawa states possibly as mercenaries to carry out their atrocities against Christians in rural communities in Sankera.
The Fulani tribe, a group known across West Africa for their cattle-herding and historical involvement in regional jihad wars, include a faction that has been linked to thousands of massacres in Nigeria. According to the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa, the Fulani Ethnic Militia have been responsible for 55,000 deaths in the last four years
Katsina-Ala County Chairman confirms killing of 11 persons
In a phone interview with TruthNigeria Correspondent on Sunday, Katsina-Ala County Chairman, Justine Shaku, confirmed the killing of 11 people and injuring of seven others.
“11 persons were killed by the rampaging Fulani militia in the unprovoked attack,” Chairman Shaku said.
“I am currently holding a security meeting with the Federal Lawmaker representing Katsina-Ala/ Ukum/Logo Federal Constituency, Hon Solomon Wombo and will update you after the meeting”, Mr Shaku added.
Gov Alia condemns the attacks
In the meantime, the embattled Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has condemned the vicious attack by armed Fulani militia on Imande, Gberihwa and Mbagena communities in Abaji-Kpa, Katsina-Ala County.
In a Press Statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Tersoo Kula on Sunday, March 9, 2025, the Governor also offered profound condolences to the families of the casualties and all the affected communities, saying security personnel have already been deployed to beef up security in the attacked communities.
“We are striving intently with local law enforcement and community leaders to ensure that our villages can reside in peace without fear of terrorism,” according to the statement.
Olikita Ekani is a Conflict Reporter with TruthNigeria.
