Idoma lawyers brand Benue killings pogrom, knocks Buhari

The Association of Idoma Lawyers yesterday condemned the spate
of killings of the people of Benue State by the Fulani herdsmen,
calling it genocide. It also chided President Muhammadu Buhari,
accusing him of indifferent attitude.

The group expressed its concern in a statement issued in Abuja
and jointly signed by its patron, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN) and
President, Dr. J. Y Musa, respectively.

The group noted that the heart-wrenching massacre and pogrom
(and still ongoing) of December 31, 2017, against the defenceless
people of the two Local Government Areas of Guma and Logo in Benue
State appears to be the attainment of a crescendo in the rhythm of
murderous expansionist glee of the genocidal tribe of Fulani
militias masquerading as herdsmen.

It added that the killings commenced on a an extermination scale
on February, 2013, first, against the sedentary and predominantly
agrarian Agatus (of Idoma extraction), and spreading, thereafter,
like a wildfire to Mbasenger community in Guma Local Government
Area in April, 2013, with the killing of 10 defenceless farmers in
one day, at the first instance, on that scale.

The statement reads in part: “The year 2013 was like a set time
for the Fulani militias to unleash their murderous mayhem of
expansionist agenda on the people of Benue. Thus, like a spread of
diffusive substance, subsequently, it has been from one event of
gory spree of rampaging killings to another across the length and
breadth of Benue State, on a scale hardly obtainable in modern
warring situation between two countries. A Timeline of the series
of massacre by the Fulani militias masquerading as herdsmen in
Benue State would help to bring this narrative in a proper
perspective.”

The group, however, listed previous attacks on Benue
by the fulani herdsmen since 2013.

Specifically, the group highlighted the attacks in recent time.
“January 24, 2017 – 15 persons were killed by rampaging Fulani
herdsmen, who attacked farmers in Ipiga village in Ohimini LGA of
Benue State.

“March 2, 2017 – No fewer than 10 persons were killed in a
renewed hostility between herdsmen and farmers in Mbahimin
community, Gwer East LGA of Benue State.

“March 11, 2017 – Seven people were killed when herdsmen
attacked a community, Mkgovur village, in Buruku LGA of Benue
State.

“May 8, 2017 – Three persons were confirmed killed by herdsmen
in TseAkaa village Ugondo Mbamar District of Logo LGA of Benue
State.

“May 13, 2017 – Less than one week after many people were killed
by herdsmen in three communities of Logo LGA of Benue State, armed
herdsmen struck again on May 13 killing eight more people.

“December 31, 2017 and January 2, 2018- 50 persons, including
seven members of the Benue State Livestock Guards have been killed
in fresh attacks on Benue communities by suspected Fulani herdsmen
after they invaded Gaambe Tiev, Ayilamo and Turanau in Logo LGA as
well as Umenger, tse-Akor and Tomatar near Tse –Abi in Nongov
District of Guma LGA.”

According to the group, the pattern of killing and wanton
destruction of property which have gone on unabated and received no
serious response from either the state (initially) or Federal
government other than indifference, political rhetoric and
platitudes despite several attempts by the affected communities to
get the government to act in their defence, but to no avail.

“In what appeared to be a well-orchestrated and carefully
planned warfare strategy of genocidal agenda, the herdsmen were to
later morph into sophisticatedly armed herdsmen, defiling the
presence of government security for most time, to embark on mass
killing and wanton destruction of property. “The scale of attack on
December 31, 2017, in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State
followed a carefully planned pattern with a precedent dating back
to January, 2016, in which conservative estimate of about 500
persons were killed by the rampaging herdsmen.”

The Association of Idoma Lawyers yesterday condemned the spate
of killings of the people of Benue State by the Fulani herdsmen,
calling it genocide. It also chided President Muhammadu Buhari,
accusing him of indifferent attitude.

The group expressed its concern in a statement issued in Abuja
and jointly signed by its patron, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN) and
President, Dr. J. Y Musa, respectively.

The group noted that the heart-wrenching massacre and pogrom
(and still ongoing) of December 31, 2017, against the defenceless
people of the two Local Government Areas of Guma and Logo in Benue
State appears to be the attainment of a crescendo in the rhythm of
murderous expansionist glee of the genocidal tribe of Fulani
militias masquerading as herdsmen.

It added that the killings commenced on a an extermination scale
on February, 2013, first, against the sedentary and predominantly
agrarian Agatus (of Idoma extraction), and spreading, thereafter,
like a wildfire to Mbasenger community in Guma Local Government
Area in April, 2013, with the killing of 10 defenceless farmers in
one day, at the first instance, on that scale.

The statement reads in part: “The year 2013 was like a set time
for the Fulani militias to unleash their murderous mayhem of
expansionist agenda on the people of Benue. Thus, like a spread of
diffusive substance, subsequently, it has been from one event of
gory spree of rampaging killings to another across the length and
breadth of Benue State, on a scale hardly obtainable in modern
warring situation between two countries. A Timeline of the series
of massacre by the Fulani militias masquerading as herdsmen in
Benue State would help to bring this narrative in a proper
perspective.”

The group, however, listed previous attacks on Benue
by the fulani herdsmen since 2013.

Specifically, the group highlighted the attacks in recent time.
“January 24, 2017 – 15 persons were killed by rampaging Fulani
herdsmen, who attacked farmers in Ipiga village in Ohimini LGA of
Benue State.

“March 2, 2017 – No fewer than 10 persons were killed in a
renewed hostility between herdsmen and farmers in Mbahimin
community, Gwer East LGA of Benue State.

“March 11, 2017 – Seven people were killed when herdsmen
attacked a community, Mkgovur village, in Buruku LGA of Benue
State.

“May 8, 2017 – Three persons were confirmed killed by herdsmen
in TseAkaa village Ugondo Mbamar District of Logo LGA of Benue
State.

“May 13, 2017 – Less than one week after many people were killed
by herdsmen in three communities of Logo LGA of Benue State, armed
herdsmen struck again on May 13 killing eight more people.

“December 31, 2017 and January 2, 2018- 50 persons, including
seven members of the Benue State Livestock Guards have been killed
in fresh attacks on Benue communities by suspected Fulani herdsmen
after they invaded Gaambe Tiev, Ayilamo and Turanau in Logo LGA as
well as Umenger, tse-Akor and Tomatar near Tse –Abi in Nongov
District of Guma LGA.”

According to the group, the pattern of killing and wanton
destruction of property which have gone on unabated and received no
serious response from either the state (initially) or Federal
government other than indifference, political rhetoric and
platitudes despite several attempts by the affected communities to
get the government to act in their defence, but to no avail.

“In what appeared to be a well-orchestrated and carefully
planned warfare strategy of genocidal agenda, the herdsmen were to
later morph into sophisticatedly armed herdsmen, defiling the
presence of government security for most time, to embark on mass
killing and wanton destruction of property. “The scale of attack on
December 31, 2017, in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State
followed a carefully planned pattern with a precedent dating back
to January, 2016, in which conservative estimate of about 500
persons were killed by the rampaging herdsmen.”