Fulani herdsmen allegedly kill one farmer in Kogi

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Fulani herdsmen allegedly kill one farmer in Kogi

Suspected Fulani herdsmen have allegedly killed a 35-year-old farmer, Mr. Ariyo Aina, on his way to the farm at Ogga community, in Yagba West Council of Kogi State.

National president of Ogga Progressive Union (OPU) Mr. Bamidele Olure, told journalists yesterday in Lokoja that Aina was murdered on Saturday.

According to him, Aina left home for the farm about 9 a.m. on Saturday, but his lifeless body was later found by other farmers.

“There were several machete cuts on his head and body, and we believe it is the handiwork of Fulani herdsmen, because they are known for such killings in the area.

“Aina had had several altercations with Fulani herdsmen in his farm over the destruction of his crops by cattle.

“The deceased had reported the matter to the police up to 11 times, but the police had insisted that he provided an evidence to show that destruction in his farm was done by cattle.

“However, last year, Aina was able to capture one calf in his farm and took it to the police station as evidence. That was when the police arrested the Fulani herders and they were made to pay compensation to the late Aina,” he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP William Aya, has confirmed the alleged murder.

“The incident was reported at the police division in Odo-Ere on Saturday,” he said.

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Herdsmen Killings: House Of Rep. Aspirant Tells Buhari To Resign

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Herdsmen Killings: House Of Rep. Aspirant Tells Buhari To Resign

Following the incessant killings of Nigerians by suspected killer herdsmen with no solution at hand, a House of Representatives hopeful for Ughelli and Udu Federal Constituency, Comrade Akpokona Omafuaire, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign, stressing that,”He is incompetent.”

In a statement, Omafuaire said With the daily killings, it is obvious the President has failed in his primary duty.

Omafuaire noted that President Buhari swore to the Nigerian constitution which prescribed one of the key functions of the President as securing lives and property.

Omafuaire stated that, “Since his emergency, Buhari has shown enough course for every reasonable Nigerian to believe that his intent was to foster an ethnic agenda of whipping out other ethnic groups.

“The questionable manner he withdrew monies without recourse to the National Assembly and the use of state security apparatus to hound opposition is a great threat to our democracy.

“The President is enmeshed in his second term agenda bid and does not care what happens to the people he is leading, so it is time for him to resign and go home. ”

                                                  

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Benue Killings, Herdsmen Not Responsible - Doyin Okupe

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Benue Killings, Herdsmen Not Responsible - Doyin Okupe

Doyin Okupe, a former aide to former president Goodluck Jonathan has absolved herdsmen of any wrong doing in the gruesome and countless killings going on in some parts of the country.

Okupe, in a Facebook post declared that the terrorist group, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), are responsible for the killings in Nigeria.

He also revealed that arming of local vigilante and backing of the police or Army is the only solution to end the killings.

Okupe wrote, “For God’s sake, Benue killings not by herdsmen. These are ISIS terrorists.

“Armed local vigilante backed by police or army is the solution.

Recall that Rev Fathers Gor Joseph and Felix were on Tuesday killed after suspected herdsmen attacked the village.

Again, no fewer than 20 persons were reportedly killed and several persons declared missing after herdsmen attacked Tse Agudu in Mbawa Council Ward, Guma LGA Area of Benue State.

                                                  

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Benue Herdsmen Killings: Nigerian Slam Buhari, APC, Nigerian Police

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Benue Herdsmen Killings: Nigerian Slam Buhari, APC, Nigerian Police

Nigerians have called out President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigeria Police over the continuous killings in Benue state.

Recall that Rev Fathers Gor Joseph and Felix were on Tuesday killed after suspected herdsmen attacked Ayar Mbalom village in Gwer East local Government Area of Benue State.

Again, no fewer than 20 persons were on Wednesday reportedly killed and several persons declared missing after herdsmen attacked Tse Agudu in Mbawa Council Ward, Guma LGA Area of Benue State.

Buhari in response had on Tuesday described the killings of the Catholic priests as a plot to stoke up religious conflict and plunge communities in the country into endless bloodletting.

However, some Nigerians in reaction to the killings took to social media expressing their grief over the incapability of Buhari’s government to act swiftly rather than issue condolence statements.

Here are some comments on Twitter:

@Jackdre02 “People, human beings are dying like rats in Benue and parts of the north, but we are quiet, we used to have one united voice of outrage pre-2015, a lot of people’s empathy died after the elections and only a few of us are now left expressing outrage on these killings.”

@Dipoawojide “Over 1, 000 Nigerians have been killed in the Middle Belt in the last one year and Buhari went to London to say he has done excellently security-wise. What has he done? Every single life matters. This is failure of governance.”

@Bayulivelife “APC was never a genuine empathy, it was all propaganda. They never loved us, it was all for the money.” “Hardly does a day pass without a horror tale of these Fulani herdsmen killings.They keep on telling us it’s herders/farmers crisis. So church too has now turn to Farms right.”

@Ademyiwa “All those Policemen wasting time and efforts stopping the #BringBackOurGirls sit-outs should be in Benue and other places where people no longer sleep with their two eyes closed. Ceteris paribus.”

@Simebricks “With all due respect Mr. President,dz assurances of urs has become a cliche. Until one of ur own is a victim, all u pledge is lip service.

@Benuetivboy “Benue is a killing field. @MBuhari you promised to keep us safe. Did you lie or is the situation more than you can handle? You are failing the people everyday.”

@Ogbenidipo “Please pay attention to the killings in Benue. This is more important than anything happening to Dino right now.”The senseless killings haven’t stopped. The Federal Government has failed.”

@Hoolarlah “I struggle to understand exactly what buhari and his government want to achieve by allowing this crisis escalate further.I just can’t reconcile how we allowed such a man become president in the first place.”

@NNamdi0gbogbo “Benue killings has turned political. The security apparatuses has to look beyond their present scope.”

@donfelix2 “Police and other security agencies can use all the resources to go after @OfficialAPCN enemies but cannot pull those same resources to stop the maiming and senseless killings in Zamfara, Benue, Taraba.”

@Oladayoferguson “We don’t need words, actions speaks better. What a president !! Worthy of note is that he was a general. A retired general who is fathomless and devoid of solutions to ethnic and senseless killings. You have failed Mr President. You have !!

@Rebroadcast02 “This is ethnic cleansing in other to Islamise this nation, firstly is to gain territory and boundaries which is what they’re doing now, don’t misunderstand it Buhari know what he’s doing, it’s a shame a President that meant ro protect people is fighting jihad against his people.”

@Kelvinodanz ” Million defenseless Nigerians will die in Benue, Zamfara, Kaduna, Taraba and it won’t even move Buhari.” Buhari is preoccupied with defeating PDP, Dino Melaye and other Saraki Allies. Those are the real enemies of Nigeria, not herdsmen and Militia groups.”

                                                  

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Atiku Speaks On The Murder Of Rev. Fathers, Parishioners In Benue

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Atiku Speaks On The Murder Of Rev. Fathers, Parishioners In Benue

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the killing of two Reverend Fathers and 19 others in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State by suspected herdsmen.

The Rev Fathers, Gor Joseph and Felix were on Tuesday killed after suspected herdsmen attacked the village.

Reacting, Atiku on his Twitter page offered his condolences to Catholic dioceses in Benue, describing the killings as heartbreaking.

He wrote “It was heart-rending to hear about the invasion and killing of worshippers in Benue State today. My condolences to Catholic dioceses of Benue State. May the deceased rest.”

Buhari had on Tuesday described the killings of the Catholic priests as a plot to stoke up religious conflict and plunge communities in the country into endless bloodletting.

                                                  

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Fayose Slams Buhari Over Murdering Of Rev. Fathers, Parishioners In Benue

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Fayose Slams Buhari Over Murdering Of Rev. Fathers, Parishioners In Benue

Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, has attacked President Muhammadu Buhari over the killing of two Reverend Fathers and 19 others in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State by suspected herdsmen.

Rev Fathers, Gor Joseph and Felix were on Tuesday killed after suspected herdsmen attacked the village.

Fayose, writing on his Twitter page, wondered why Buhari was silent over the ”seeming ethnic cleansing in Benue and other middle-belt States.”

He wrote ”A government that is not concerned about the killing of 18 Catholic worshipers, including two priests but running after perceived political opponents will surely come to an inglorious end one day.

”It is alarming and curious that Father Joseph Gor, one of the Catholic Priests that were murdered in Benue State yesterday, raised alarm on January 3, 2018, through his Facebook account on the occupation of Mbalom community by herdsmen. Yet, the priest was killed!

”Why is the FG allowing this seeming ethnic cleansing in Benue and other middle-belt States, such that President Buhari and the entire members of his government do not see the wanton killings as anything to be worried about?

”When did Nigeria degenerate to the level that people can no longer worship peacefully in their churches or go to their farms? When did Nigeria become a state of anomie where people are killed even after raising alarm that there was threat to their existence?

”In all these, Nigerians should remember that I warned that a tyrant will forever be a tyrant.”

                                                  

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Benue State Acting Gov, Abounu Laments Benue Is Under Siege By Insurgents

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Benue State Acting Gov, Abounu Laments Benue Is Under Siege By Insurgents

The Acting Governor of Benue State, Engr. Benson Abounu, has declared that the state is currently under siege by insurgents.

Engr Abounu, who spoke yesterday after an emergency security meeting at his office, said Benue was at the moment under attack from all corners as insurgents had invaded the state, picking their targets at will and spilling blood everywhere.

The meeting followed Tuesday early morning attack by bandits, suspected to be herdsmen on Ayar Mbalom, Gwer West local government area and the killing of 19 persons, including two Catholic priests, who were officiating the morning mass at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Gwer East.

The Acting Governor, who described the day as a dark one for Benue state and its people, said, “The attack was a calculated one; well planned and well executed by the bandits who first attacked the church, killed the priests, a catechist and some parishioners, then went to a venue of a burial ceremony and killed some of the mourners.”

He said the attack on the church was a new dimension to the farmers/herdsmen crisis and one that needs a determined and appropriate response from the federal government and the security agencies the way insurgency in the North East is being tackled, adding that what they are experiencing today is insurgency.

The Acting Governor, who stated that the bandits, who numbered about 30 might still be lurking around the bushes directed the security agents to pursue them, flush them out of the area and get them apprehended so that they can be investigated to know the root causes of the killings.

He disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, who has visited the area himself, has deployed his men to the area, the same thing as the Commander of the 72 Special Forces battalion who has also dispatched soldiers there.

While appealing for calm, he called on people of the state to be extra vigilant and to report any suspicious movement to the security agencies.

                                                  

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Benue Killings: Osinbajo Reacts To The Murder Of Rev Fathers, Others

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Benue Killings: Osinbajo Reacts To The Murder Of Rev Fathers, Others

The Federal Government has vowed to deal with those attacking and killing worshippers in churches and mosques across the country.

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, those who are hell bent on making the nation ungovernable would soon face the wrath of law.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Tuesday at the inauguration of the Headquarters building and auditorium of the Deeper Life Bible Church in Gbagada, Lagos.

According to the Vice President, “It is not only a heinous sacrilege but high wickedness to kill persons in a place of worship. It is evident that the devil’s bigger agenda is to stoke up a religious conflict in Nigeria, one such as will make it impossible for anyone to preach the gospel or even for Muslims to worship in their mosques.”

“Citing examples of the recent attacks on worship places in Borno and Benue states, Prof. Osinbajo said the Federal Government was working on arresting the situation and urged all Nigerians to be calm and remain focused on the teachings of their faith.”

He added that “while the security agencies continue to work relentlessly to hunt down the perpetrators of these evil acts, we all must not lose focus.”

“The President has mandated that I take up those cases with the specific State and local authorities, the right to freedom of worship is also the right to build places of worship.

“While the security agencies continue to work relentlessly to hunt down the perpetrators of these evil acts and to bring a permanent end to all of the killings going on in the name of herdsmen, Boko Haram, or in any other name, we as a body of Christ must not lose focus.

“The enemy wants us to stand on our pulpits and preach hate, we will not. We will obey the Lord Jesus Christ who said that we must love our enemies and pray even for those who persecute us. No person born or yet to be born, can stop the march of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed as the Word of God says, this Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

                                                  

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Herdsmen Killings: Muslim Group Condemns The Murder Of Rev Fathers, Parishioners In Benue

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Herdsmen Killings: Muslim Group Condemns The Murder Of Rev Fathers, Parishioners In Benue

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has in strong terms condemned the attack on St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Ayar-Mbalom in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State, yesterday, which led to the death of 19 persons, including two Catholic priests, Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha.

The group, while condemning the wanton waste of human lives, described the attack as wicked, repulsive and barbaric.

Herdsmen in two separate attacks in Guma and Gwer East on Tuesday butchered no fewer than 50 persons and set over 70 houses on fire.

Professor Ishaq Akintola, Director, MURIC, in a statement issued yesterday called for the arrest of those behind the dastard act.

He said life was sacred and that only Allah the Supreme Creator has the right to freely take what He gave, stressing that, “Therefore, killing for vengeance, religious or ethnic reason is not only primitive but also sinful.”

Akintola said, “Although the attackers also burnt 50 houses and sacked the entire community, we are singling out the vicious attack on the church for strong condemnation. Those who attack the house of God have no single atom of piety in their hearts. They should therefore not expect mercy from Allah, the Supreme Creator. They seek to set different ethnic groups and religions at one another’s throats. But they will fail by the Grace of Allah.

“We are constrained to observe that most of the killings around the Middle Belt area are ignited by hate speech. We therefore appeal to Nigerians to exercise caution in their utterances, to respect human life, tolerate and forgive one another. Every peaceful community is a round hole whereas vengeance is a square peg. It is therefore an alien instrument designed to cause commotion.

“We charge the Inspector General of Police to bring the killers of the worshippers in St. Ignatius Catholic Church to book. We implore the Federal Government to do everything possible to stop the carnage in the country, particularly in Benue and Taraba.”

                                                  

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Gov. Al-Makura Stoned, Booed At Obi By IDPs

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Gov. Al-Makura Stoned, Booed At Obi By IDPs

Nasarawa Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura was, yesterday, pelted with stones in Agwatashi, Obi Local Government Area of the state, by angry Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The IDPs were recently rendered homeless by herdsmen attacks, which led to the death of about 78 persons.

The governor was booed by aggrieved IDPs at Agwatashi, while on an on-the-spot assessment visit to some of the IDPs camps and other affected villages in Obi Local Government and to condole with the people over the recent herdsmen attacks.

NAIJA VOICE gathered that the IDPs, on sighting Al-Makura began to jeer him and pelted stones on him and his entourage.

The situation was brought under control by the security men and some elders in the camp.

Reacting, Al-Makura attributed the situation to frustration as a result of the challenges the IDPs were facing.

“The reaction from the people is understandable given their plight and we have to use diplomacy to address the issues. Continuing to address them at the moment would not yield any result, so, we have decided to avoid further altercation.

“However, this action appears to indicate that the problems in some of these communities are self-inflicted. If people can conduct themselves in this way, then, you know there is more to it than what is happening,” Al-Makura said.

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Herdsmen Taraba Killings: Nigerian Army Declares Dantayi, Olumba, Others Wanted

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Herdsmen Taraba Killings: Nigerian Army Declares Dantayi, Olumba, Others Wanted

The Nigerian Army has declared five persons wanted in connection with the recent killings in Takum LGA of Taraba State.

Army said the quintet were among those who led the attack that led to loss of many lives and property in the state.

Texas Chukwu, the NA’s spokesman in a statement advised the general public to always give useful and timely information to the security agencies for prompt action.

He said, “In line with the on going Military exercise AYEM AKPATUMA in Taraba State, five (5) suspects are hereby declared wanted for their alleged roles in the killings in Takum Local Government Area in particular and Taraba State in general..

“Those declared wanted are: Mr Tanko Adiku Dantayi, Mr Kurusi Danladi, Mr Chindo, Mr Big Olumba, One known as Chairman Poko.”

Just last week, the Nigerian Army announced the arrest of two alleged masterminds of the killings in Takum and Ussa Local Government Areas of Taraba State, identified as Mr. Danjuma and Mr. Danasebe Gasama.

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