BENUE MASSACRE: NOW THAT THE KILLERS ARE NOT HERDSMEN
Senseless killings have become a trend in Benue State for enormous
reasons chief of which may be a perceived inability of the government
to provide adequate policing within the dictates of its territory.
Nigeria no doubt is at the threshold of history where insurgencies,
corruption, ethnic bigotry, religious extremism, ritual killings, and
other mundane happenings have continued unabated thus, threatening our
peaceful coexistence as a nation. The Nigerian military and other
security agencies have performed creditably in the fight against
insurgency. Although the insurgents have been greatly decimated but
yet to be completely disbanded, there is a need to continuously
mobilize support and pray for our gallant officers in the battle
field. They are indeed the defenders of our democracy.
Recently in the county town of Zaki-Biam, a Tiv speaking community in
Benue state, tragedy struck when about fifty persons were mowed down
and several others injured by attackers whom inhabitants suspected to
be the murderous Fulani herdsmen. In what appears to be a twist of
fate however, the trio of the Benue State Governor, Inspector General
of Police and the Benue State Commissioner of police, have come out to
debunk their claims, stating that the marauders are not herdsmen but
“criminals” loyal to the dreaded militant leader, Terwase Agwaza aka
Gana. Time they say heals every wound but memories of the Agatu
genocide, Buruku, Guma and Okpokwu killings may not be forgotten in a
hurry, in spite of the economic recession and socio-political tides in
our contemporary Nigeria. Indeed, Gana and his boys must be insane if
they are responsible for all the killings in Benue State.
Recall that some time ago, Northern Governors posited after series of
meetings in the Arewa House that the killers of innocent Nigerians are
not Fulani herdsmen but migrants from other parts of Africa. One thing
that comes to mind is, with all these revelations as to who and who
are behind these attacks, ground breaking arrests have not been made
and the Northern elites are always quick to exonerate the herdsmen
whenever the need arises. Once the cause of a problem is known,
proffering a solution should become relatively easier. If the killers
of innocent indigenes of Benue state and other parts of the country
are not herdsmen but criminals and migrants respectively, then it is
expected that this deleterious cancer which has eaten so deep into our
national fabric will soon be a thing of the past.
Although Governor Ortom, the Chief Security Officer of Benue State
declined mentioning names of the sponsors of the Zaki-Biam massacre in
a recent chat with pressmen for obvious reasons, it is our wish that
the perpetrators be brought to book soonest. In the wake of the search
for Gana and his boys however, any further attack on our communities
may put to question, the claims that herdsmen have nothing to do with
the killings in Benue State.
Now that the killers of Benue indigenes have been identified as
criminals, government and security agencies at all levels must work
assiduously to save our people from the claws of these blood thirsty
elements. They must as a matter of urgency ensure a more secured Benue
State because there might be more to the Benue killings than meet the
eyes. Politicians should also desist from playing games with the lives
of our people in a bid to earn cheap popularity. It is the primary
responsibility of any government to protect the lives and properties
of her citizenry and Benue people must enjoy this onus of government
towards them.
Comra Omaga E. Danielde is the spokesperson of Benue Elite Development
Network (BENNETWORK) and writes from Abuja.