Just when it seemed respite was coming the way of Benue farming communities from the incursions of marauding herdsmen after the flag off of Exercise Ayem A’ Kpatuma, or Cat Race, a military spike operation to end herdsmen killings in the state, armed herdsmen early in the week stormed Mbatoho, an Island community at Mbalagh council ward of Makurdi local government, sacking over 5,000 inhabitants of the vast Island.

The invaders who were reported to have quietly ordered the locals to vacate their ancestral homes without putting up any resistance warned that their intent was not to shed blood.

Scared stiff of the threat, the locals immediately fled their homes to the mainland after which the well armed herdsmen razed several homes on the island and occupied the territory which is less than five kilometer on sea from the Wadata area of Makurdi town.

Majority of the victims caught refuge in homes of relatives and friends on the other side of River Benue while a handfull of others staged a peaceful protest to Benue Government House, seeking the intervention of the state government to save them from being homeless.

It was gathered from some of the displaced persons that the armed herdsmen started the action of attacking and taking over the island some days ago.

According to the Community Leader of the Island and tax collector of the inner segment of the Island, Chief Peter Tachie, “the armed herdsmen who are usually dressed in black started their action four days ago in our community.

“They came in their numbers with their cattle into island from Guma local government area and other places on foot some weeks ago because the water level of River Benue has dropped significantly so they could easily assess the island on foot.

“Four days ago they started destroying our houses, farmland and food barns and also taking over the LGEA Primary school in the island and converting same for personal use.

“As we speak no Tiv person is on that island at the moment, they have taken our farms and also uprooted our cassava from our plantation to feed their cattle which are also grazing freely on our farmland.

“They have destroyed all that we spent years to acquire, so we have all moved into Makurdi main town with our families to seek government’s attention.

“You know that we do a lot of dry season farming on the Island and as we speak all that we planted in this dry season have all been destroyed by the herdsmen and their cattle.”

On his part, the tax collector of the outer segment of the island, Chief Stephen Guntu, said the invaders had warned that it was in the best interest of the locals to vacate the island in order to avert a major crisis.

“They warned that we should leave the island quietly in our own interest. And since we know that they could be ruthless we all fled with our families.

“Some of us are currently taking refuge in the houses of friends and relatives while John Kyuka who is a politician that comes regularly to campaign in the island also offered to accommodate very few of us.

“We need urgent intervention of the government because they have taken over our farmlands and all the food we harvested during the last farming season.

“Moreover, we do a lot of dry season farming and as I speak all the crops we planted this season are now food for the cattle.”

Head Teacher of the only Primary School on the Island, the LGEA Primary School, Daudu, Mr. Ephram Otave told Saturday Vanguard that close to 400 pupil of the school had been chased out of school by the invaders.

“All my pupils who are close to 400 have been chased out of school and displaced due to the activities of the herdsmen who have occupied the entire island and chased out our people.”

Confirming the development, the Benue state Information Commission, Lawrence Onoja Jnr. said the invaders had completely taken over the Island adding that the government had also directed security personnel to push them out of the community before the crisis would escalate.

According to the Commissioner “our findings when the Security Adviser to the Governor, Lt. Col. Paul Hemba(Rtd.) led a team to Island indicated that for sometime in the last few days there has been serious influx of herdsmen into Benue especially along Agatu, Guma, Logo, Katsina/Ala local government areas and communities bordering Nasarawa state especially.

“It was in the course of this influx that groups of herdsmen some days ago went to Mbatoho Island, at Mbalagh council ward of Makurdi local government area and sacked the locals from their homes.

“The people fled from Island and the herdsmen took over the community. When the team got there it was discovered that the herdsmen were feeding their cattle on the farm produce of the people and all they had in their barns.

“Governor Samuel Ortom has been in constant touch with security personnel who have mobilized to the Island and have been directed to to push back the herdsmen.

“Unfortunately the Exercise Ayem A’ Akpatuma recently launched by the military in the state to end the herdsmen incursion in the state does not cover that area because it is an Island completely surrounded by water.

“However, security personal have been mobilized to the island to move the herdsmen out so that the people can move back to their community.”

When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent, ASP, Moses Yamu confirmed that the Special Forces of the Police had moved into the Island to restore order.

“Just today, the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni held meetings with some Ardos (Fulani Chiefs) and Chiefs from Agatu, Gwer West and others, after which they went on a visit to the Island. As we speak they are yet to return to Makurdi mainland.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/03/we-are-here-to-take-over-your-land.html

Somehow I feel unlawfulness is getting worse in the North... It's a matter of time till we have government pleading with terrorists

the best defence is to pick up arms and protect yourself, fight and die fighting.

The Herdsmen get confidence Ooo chai

The land belong to we the Fulanis and we are here to recover it back, not minding shedding blood to get back what rightfully belong to us.
The Benue people should peacefully vacate the land to avoid all of em getting wiped

Them don finally conquer omenka people. What a shame

Tivs should keep shouting One Nigeria while their Idoma and Igede counterparts join IPOB in droves.

Look at Omenka now enjoying Okpa in a refugee camp in the East.

And as usual,everybody will keep mute and shove it off because it was not said by IPOB.
Benue enjoy the change you voted for.next time Nigerians will apply sense during election.
Nigeria enjoy your change
Nigeria enjoy your change
Nigeria enjoy your change

By 2023, Tivs would have completely become a landless people in the name of One Nigeria.


God bless Kanu for warning us earlier.

thank God I am not from benue ... i know someone will quote me and say one Nigeria

This is madness!

Whats the name of this movie cus this cant be real, ah maybe donald trump was wrong when he called africa shithole instead of nigeria

They should not only take over their lands but also their wives and children.

In that way I may succeed in having omenka as my house boy

Boohary brothers and impunity. After 2019 when boohary is rigged in by Prof yakubu of Inec his friend and fellow fulani, you guys will smell your anus.

Una just dey start.

"...We made a disproportionate contribution to the maintenance of the unity of Nigeria at war. We made a sacrifice of over half a million men to keep Nigeria one; we cannot be made to look like cowards. When you want to fight your wars, where do they get soldiers? They come here (Benue). We contributed more than one million men to fight the Nigerian Civil War. We had three quarters of the casualties. What has Nigeria rewarded my people with?...Governor Ortom
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These people should stop talking and repeat what they did with the Biafrans, their fellow Christians...Is it when they are clinical wiped out that they will react? Abeg make we hear word!!