The effects of heinous attacks on agrarian communities of Benue and Nasarawa states by armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have caused shortage of food, sparking fear of an imminent mass hunger.

Scores of persons who were displaced by the herdsmen attacks are yet to return to their homes, even as they are unable to engage in farming activities in this year’s cropping season. This is because of lack of adequate security in the affected areas.

There are widespread cries over the imminent hunger and poverty that has inflicted the agrarian communities that were damaged by herdsmen attacks in Benue and Nasarawa states. The people lost their homes and other personal belongings, and are yet to find their feet.

The Ter Nagi, Chief Daniel Abomtse, a second class chief in Benue State, whose brethren were gruesomely murdered by the herdsmen, has attributed lack of food and hunger to the destruction of farmlands by the marauders.

“Our homes and farmlands were destroyed by the herdsmen and till now, silent killings are ongoing in some places. In some of our villages, our people cannot return to their homes because of the massive destruction that went on which will take several years to rebuild. And some of the places are still volatile, not safe for the people to move because there is no adequate security of lives,” Abomtse lamented.

This is the cry of the people whose villages were completely destroyed by the herdsmen. The people cannot forget the ugly incidents that visited them which claimed scores of lives. Even if they forget, they cannot easily or never at all, forgive the terrorists that unleashed terror on the communities, without any justifiable reason.

Several local government areas of Benue State, including Agatu, Buruku, Kwande, Logo, Guma, Makurdi, Ukum, Gwer West and Tarka, were hit by the herdsmen attacks leading to the complete destruction of the villages belonging to farmers. Schools and churches, as well as markets and government outfits were similarly, not spared. At the moment, there is no hope that the ravaged places will quickly be reconstructed.

In Nasarawa State, the situation was not different as Yelwata, Keana and Awe towns have had varied bitter taste of the gruesome attacks. Scores were displaced, just as nursing mothers would back children and trek for miles in the trenches to survive.

In many of the attacked areas, the suffering condition has overwhelmed many persons. Children have lost their lives midway into the journey while struggling to flee the traumatised areas.

The invasion of the herdsmen, in their large numbers, has led to suspicion that the attacks were more than mere act of terror. The terrible way and manner women and children were butchered, beheaded and many of their vital body organs carted away, obviously point to the fact that what propelled the herdsmen to carry out the attacks was better imagined.

Although, the ongoing silent killings in some of the attacked communities has further worsened fear leading to the inhabitants staying away from their homes for the fear of the unknown.

It was gathered that some of the destroyed villages cannot be visited at the moment because they have become shadows of themselves, without any inhabitant occupying them.

It was learnt that some of the council wards, including Moon in Kwande and Okokolo in Agatu local government areas, are currently occupied by the herdsmen. It was further gathered that in some villages, burials of indigenes are no longer holding due to the volatile nature of the places.

Findings further revealed that the incessant attacks have claimed hundreds of lives in Nasarawa and Benue areas. For instance, in the affected areas of Benue, since February 2016, reports said 12 persons were killed in Aila community of Agatu; 14 killed in Egba, Okoklo communities and three in Mbanyagbe and Mbaanyo in Tsendev, Tarka LGA. While five people were killed in Agwabi community in Binev council ward of Buruku, 15 lives were claimed in Tse-Aondo, Tse-anikyol and Igbogum areas in Tsaav council ward of Ukum LGA.

In Dusa and Jun villages of Turan and Gabo in Nenzev council ward of Logo LGA, 10 were gruesomely murdered, just as 11 were killed in Anyiin in Logo LGA and Vaase, Gov, Uzer, Gbeji and Jootar communities of Ukum LGA respectively. The attacks and killings are endless and even ongoing silently.

While the silent killings continue and the displaced persons are still on the run for their lives, a looming hunger stares the communities in the face due to the total destruction of farmlands and agricultural produce.

Lamenting the destruction, district head of Binev in Buruku LGA, Zaki Dennis Nyitse told LEADERSHIP Friday in Agwabi village that “Several of our people are killed. The Fulani herdsmen carry heavy weapons including AK 47. All my subjects have fled the area for fear of the unknown.”

“The crises is taking a deadly dimension because, the assailants were planning to revisit the area and destroy everything. There is no food because our people cannot go to their farms. We want the state and federal government to quickly intervene and provide adequate security,” he stated.

The Ada Agatu, Chief Godwin Onah, said that despite efforts of both state and federal government to restore peace in the affected localities, the communities at the borderline with Nasarawa State are still being occupied by the herders.

“Deserted towns such as, Okokolo, Odugbeho, Akwu and Ugboju, as well as adjourning villages, need the presence of soldiers to return to their homes. While some other communities which share border with neighbouring Nasarawa State and Tiv speaking Guma local government area of Benue around the riverine, are still under siege. The Fulani people are still occupying the communities, the people can’t go home and there is need to establish military barracks here.” he said.

Mr. Akor Jimin is a farmer from Yelwata in Nasarawa State. According to him, he relocated from his interior village to Yelwata after the herdsmen destroyed his home and farmland. He said some of his family members were killed and that he has not returned to his village because the place is not secured.

“The hunger is alarming and more so that our farmlands were destroyed, many of our people could not farm this year because they cannot access their homes. Silent killings are still going on and many of the villages are not secured. Now that the economy has crashed, the situation is worse,” Jimin stated.

•Excerpted from a LEADERSHIP Friday report. Photo shows armed herdsmen.

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