The Coalition of Sankera Elites, CSE, a socio-cultural organisation, has raised the alarm over the activities of armed herdsmen in the Sankera axis of Benue state, lamenting that over 1,000 individuals have so far lost their lives to the marauders who also ravaged over 2,000 villages with properties worth billions of Naira destroyed.
Sankera axis comprises of Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas, LGAs, of the state.
Addressing the media weekend in Makurdi, leader of the Coalition, Mr. Job Tiza who condemned the security situation in Sankera known as the Food Basket of Benue, pointed out that armed herdsmen have forced the people to flee their homes and farms and taking refuge in Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camps and homes of loved ones in other communities.
He insisted that the government was not doing enough to tackle insecurity in that part of the state in order to protect the lives and property of the huge farming populace which had become a threat to the food security of the state and the country at large.
He stated that since July 2023 “the people of Ugbaam, Kundav, Borikyo, Mbatian, Mbazum, and parts of Uyam Council Wards in Ukum Local Government have been forcibly displaced from their ancestral homes for the first time in recorded history. These homes are now permanently occupied by the marauding herdsmen. They are grazing freely as we make this press statement.
“Statistically, these six council wards account for 50 percent of Ukum’s population. Thus, it is not an exaggeration to state that about half of the local government’s population is displaced and currently seeking refuge either in IDPs camps or with relatives in Sankera and Zaki Biam.
“Over two thousand villages in Sankera have been devastated, with more than one thousand individuals killed by the invaders and properties worth billions of Naira destroyed. Our communities are helpless, for it appears the government has surrendered our land to these invaders and criminals.
“Sankera is predominantly an agrarian society, and the intermediate area is vital to Benue’s status as the Food Basket of Nigeria. However, we can no longer access our farmlands as Sankera is now facing serious starvation and unable to provide food for the nation. This is a food security crisis that should worry every person of goodwill.”
Recalling some of the attacks and killings perpetrated by the armed herdsmen in the area,the Coalition noted that “on Saturday March 9, 2024, armed herdsmen invaded Gbagir, a settlement in Tyuluv Council Ward of Ukum LGA and killed 68 persons. Also, on August 11, 2024, over 80 persons were killed by herdsmen in Ayati and other parts of Borikyo Council Ward of Ukum. They were accorded a mass burial just to mention but a few.
“In Logo LGA, on July 28, 2024 armed herdsmen attacked and murdered Mr. Terdoo Hembaor on Anyiin-Awashua road when he was conveying a passenger to Fanu crossing point at River Benue. On October 9, 2024 at about 8:30pm, in multiple attacks, the herdsmen also murdered the late Solomon Kwanta of Tse Kwanta in Tomatar Iwendyer, a 300 level student of University of Calabar. He was murdered on Abeda – Ayilamo road. They also proceeded to Ayilamo town where they killed in cold blood, Mr. Aza Dooior and his son at about 8:30 pm and injured three others
“On October 11, 2024 at about 8:30pm they attacked Uzer settlement in Tombo Council Ward and murdered Mrs. Ulagh Isaac and her son. Also on October 19, 2024 at about 8pm they attacked Anyiin town and murdered 14 persons. On Friday October 18, 2024 they attacked the locals in the farm at Kurungu village in Iwendyer community, Tombo Council Ward and murdered two persons: Igba Mtswenen and Ioryina Adinya.
“On October 29, 2024 at about 4:30pm, the killer herdsmen murdered Orseer Iorzua Gbam at Fofi village on Ayilamo-Abeda road. Also on the same date at about 5pm they attacked Tse Vir, Tse Akombo and Tse Agule villages in Mbaniange community, Mbagber Council Ward Logo LGA and murdered 11 persons. On November 4, 2024 the they invaded Anyiin, Ayilamo and environs and killed 17 people leaving several others injured and destroying properties worth millions. And on November 24, 2024 at about 6:30am they invaded Azege settlement in Tombo Council Ward and murdered 17 persons.
“The records are there for anyone to verify that the whole of Tombo, Tswarev/Ukerembergya Council Wards and parts of Mbagber and Turan Council Ward have been displaced. Thousands of people are living in IDP camps either in Ugba or Anyiin with some squatting with relatives without any means of livelihood.
“In Katsina Ala, there are several cases of herdsmen attacks in Yooyo and Mbayongo Council Ward that have left not fewer than 50 persons dead and properties with millions destroyed. These are the ones readily available on record as there are several unrecorded attacks and killings on a daily basis in that part of the state.
“Suffice it to state that our people have endured every form of human degradation, including death, torture, rape, food insecurity, psychological trauma, and above all, an existential crisis.”
The Coalition appealed to President Bola Tinubu to “deploy security forces to dislodge the armed herdsmen who have permanently occupied our ancestral land in Sankera and also facilitate the resettlement of our people back to their ancestral homes. Provide relief materials and other forms of assistance for their resettlement.”
They also requested the approval of the President for “the establishment of a military barracks in Sankera, particularly in Ukum LGA which is the flashpoint to prevent further breakdown of law and order and restore security so that our people can go back to their farms as the farming season is knocking on the door. In addition, we appeal to Mr President to kindly complete the construction of the Mobile Police barracks in Anyiin, Logo LGA to enhance quick security response to distress calls and stop the herders and bandits from causing mayhem to our people.”
They urged that as an interim measure, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA should be directed by the President to release relief materials to the displaced people of Sankera to ease their hardship and trauma.
Meanwhile the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Tersoo Kula had in a recent statement maintained that the present administration had achieved relative peace in the state compared to what obtained in the past.
