Killer Fulani herdsmen need to be stopped

monjola sotubo

April 12, 2016 6:29 PM

The herdsmen have been harassing farmers in the middle belt for a long time but their activities came to a head in February 2016 when they murdered hundreds of villagers in the Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

Fulani herdsmen with their cattle

There are murderous Fulani herdsmen on the rampage in Nigeria.

“The Idoma nation is helpless. Over 300 Agatu people have been killed and others maimed in one week without concerted effort by the state government to abate the attack, killings and destruction,”Opiatoha K’Idoma, a group made up of Idomas, Benue’s predominant tribe, said in response to the incident.

“I’m shocked beyond words at the extent of destruction I have seen here in Agatu today. This is unbelievable. It is unimaginable. Nothing whatsoever justifies this brazen act of destruction meted out on the people of Agatu. My heart bleeds,” former Senate President, David Mark said at the time adding that 500 people had been killed in the massacre.

Since then, there have been reports of small pockets of violence caused by the herdsmen around the country.

However, on Monday, April 11, 2016, the herdsmen again went on full rampage in Taraba State when they attacked Angai and Ndole villages in the Gashaka Local Council area.

“Happening now in Gashaka LGA, Taraba state. The genocide and ethnic cleansing continue! Fulani herdsmen have descended on about four villages in Gashaka LGA in Taraba central, slaughtering, destroying farmlands and houses and burning villagers alive. Please help broadcast this to the world. No sign of any security in sight,” a Facebook user, Bako Benjamin wrote on his page.

The incident has been confirmed by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Joseph Kwaji.

“It is true that there was an attack by the herdsmen, but for now, I don’t have the full details of the crisis, so I cannot tell you the number of casualties now,” Kwaji said.

According to residents of the area, the crisis started because one of the herdsmen “was prevented from raping a woman.”

The Fulani herdsmen have also been named as the fourth deadliest terror group in the world by the Global Terrorism Index (GTI).

According to the report, the herdsmen are believed to have killed at least 1,229 people in Nigeria in 2014, making the country the third most terrorized nation in the world.

The GTI also warned that the Fulani herdsmen have been linked to Boko Haram adding that the herdsmen’s attacks “now pose a serious threat to stability.”

The impunity with which the Fulani herdsmen attack villages shows that they believe they’re untouchable and this is because no major step has been taken to check their atrocities.

The Nigerian government needs to act immediately to stop these murderous herdsmen before they become a full blown terrorist group.

monjola sotubo