http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/june/22/national-22-06-2011-005.html

2 soldiers, 18 others killed in Tiv/Fulani renewed clash
From ROSE EJEMBI, Makurdi
Wednesday, June 22 2011



Photo: Sun News Publishing
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At least 20 persons including an Army Officer identified as Lieutenant Chinedu Anyanwu and another rank and file have been killed in a renewed Tiv/Fulani clash along the border towns and villages in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

The three days of sustained attacks by armed Fulani herdsmen on affected villages and towns has also left several persons missing with over three thousand people displaced.
Daily Sun gathered that the displaced persons were now taking refuge in camps far away from their ancestral homes for fear of another attack by the Fulanis, who are involved in nocturnal raids in the community.

Among the missing is a soldier with one of the patrol teams deployed to the area.
An eyewitness told newsmen that invading Fulani herdsmen had also burnt down more than 1000 homesteads in close to 100 kindred compounds in the affected area close to Udei town, the largest settlement in the area.

Daily Sun correspondent also gathered that hundreds of displaced persons were now quartered in camps situated in Ortese, Daudu and Yelwetta, where the Benue State Emergency Management Agency was providing relief materials and healthcare service to them.
Some of the villagers, who had their relations in Makurdi had also fled the affected area and were now staying in different part of the state capital.

Msugh Iorpuu, a member of one of the affected communities who is now staying in Mobile Barracks, Adeke said the herdsmen first invaded the Udei area in the early hours of Sunday morning, overpowering the soldiers and mobile policemen deployed in the area.
Iorpuu, who told Daily Sun that one of his sisters, who had gone to write the NECO examination last Monday before they fled their village was yet to be seen at the time of filing this report.

He explained that the invading herdsmen were close to 100 and travelled on horse- back and foot to get to the villages in the area.
Meanwhile, Benue State Deputy Governor, Steven Lawani yesterday visited displaced persons’ camps in Daudu and Yelwetta, where he assured the people that the state government would not abandon them at this moment of grief.
Lawani also inaugurated a five-man Committee of Enquiry led by Mr Cletus Upaa to look into the immediate and remote causes of the crises with a view to forestalling future occurence.
He noted that the state government would liaise with the Nasarawa State Government to find a lasting solution to the border crises, which had led to loss of lives and property.

The deputy governor, who told newsmen that the Army had already informed its headquarters about the loss of its men in the clash, however, assured that the governors of both Benue and Nasarawa states would be meeting at Yelwata this Friday to among other things inaugurate a joint Committee of Enquiry into the clash.
When contacted, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Alaribe Ejike (ASP) confirmed the conflict in the Benue-Nasarawa border between fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers, but added that the area of fighting was not within the jurisdiction of the state command.

He said people on the Benue side of the border had fled their homes because of the fear of attacks from neighbouring Nasarawa State.
Although no reason has been given for the attacks, it may be reprisal attacks by the herdsmen after armed farmers killed a Fulani traditional ruler, Ardo of Kardarko, Alhaji Habibu Dono and four others last month during one of the clashes.
Though soldiers were drafted to assist mobile policemen restore peace to the area, the angry Fulani herdsmen were said to have served notice of reprisal attacks to the communities around Udei thereafter.
The series of attacks of the Tiv villages by Fulani herdsmen in recent times have left more than 100 persons dead in four Benue State local councils since January.
Residents of Makurdi are now living in fear, as the conflict draws closer to the Benue State capital.

Again!!!!!

fulani herdsmen again, na wa o!,

In Nigeria, the leaders don't care, so people resort to violence to settle scores. If two communities have land dispute the one with more powerful people connected to the government wins the case or is favoured. so now any communities that have problems resort to violence to show their supremacy.

Chineke me e!

"Sai One Najiriya".

Until Nigerians understand that the Jihardists have only one rule:

"Kill or die killing" what is happening now will only be a childs play to what is to come.

"Sai One Najiriya".

Surprisingly it is the same Tiv who have often boasted of their civil war exploits and how they will spill the last drop of their blood to keep Nigeria one but cannot spill a pint of sweat to keep their people safe.

I keep wondering wether this mouth disease is only afflicting the yorubas or is afflicting other MB tribes.

People who claimed their leaders were killed in 1966 are now being killed by their leaders in 2011

This is truly sad. I remember when soldiers went on a killing spree in Benue when some of their men (i think about 2) were killed during tribal clashes on the basis of mistaken identity.

It was heart breaking what the soldiers did in that town. I wonder what they would do about this latest incident now that the fulanis have killed one of their own.

A soveriegn national conference is becoming inevitable

this is trouble, a liutenant killed, stayed tuned for illegal killing by the military.

9dynasty:

i'm sooo pissed i have to speak English-how can 100 farmers on horse back destabilize a whole state, in fact this topic should be deleted

which state are you talking about? is it your state of mind?

noblezone:

Chineke me e!

"Sai One Najiriya".

Until Nigerians understand that the Jihardists have only one rule:

"Kill or die killing" what is happening now will only be a childs play to what is to come.

"Sai One Najiriya".

It is okay to be ignorant, but is condemnable to show it on such a platform. So Fulani are now jihadists (do you even know what Jihad means?). This is a battle for land, the TIV are farmers while the Fulani seek pasture for their cattle on the same land. The conflict arises when there is no government intervention to control where pasture should be and where farmlands are. The fact that most TIV are Cristians and Fulanis are Muslims is beside the point, the same happens in Hausa land as well.

Fulani no know borders and rarely subject themselves to any form of authority other than that of their tribal chiefs. They would easily fight with Muslim farmers to get pasture for their Cattle. Once again it is a failure of government but people like you with your primitive UP! UP!! Jesus!!! mentality cannot comprehend that.

This jungle called Nigeria is getting more ludicrous by the day

@mactunji

It is okay to be ignorant, but is condemnable to show it on such a platform. So Fulani are now jihadists (do you even know what Jihad means?). This is a battle for land, the TIV are farmers while the Fulani seek pasture for their cattle on the same land. The conflict arises when there is no government intervention to control where pasture should be and where farmlands are. The fact that most TIV are Cristians and Fulanis are Muslims is beside the point, the same happens in Hausa land as well.

Fulani's no know borders and rarely subject themselves to any form of authority other than that of their tribal chiefs. They would easily fight with Muslim farmers to get pasture for their Cattle. Once again it is a failure of government but people like you with your primitive UP! UP!! Jesus!!! mentality cannot comprehend that.

Please don't waste ur energy trying to educate some d.umb folks here on NL, it's going to cost an arm and a leg to get them educated and stop thinking with their backsides.

Most of them (like the slowpoke u are trying to educate) are products of a failed Educational system in Nigeria.

so the Tivs can no longer defend their land, this country is heading towards self destruction.
the fact is dat we cannot stay together as one naija especially with the blood thirsty fellas in the north.

9dynasty:

i'm sooo pissed i have to speak English-how can 100 farmers on horse back destabilize a whole state, in fact this topic should be deleted

dustydee:

which state are you talking about? is it your state of mind?

LWKM at the bold

'Committee to look into remote and immediate causes of the crises to forestal future occurence'. This is d most popular 'after crises' statement by government in Nigeria. I love dis country. Bunch of comedian leaders.

What I find hard to understand is that this issue of land usage and encroachment by fulani herders seem to be a common occurrence. They wait to pounce on the owners of the land that they are trespassing on! Something just is not right. what is the reaction of the government? why must a Tiv farmer run from his own land? has been going on for a long while?

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these things happens daily yet no security chief is sacked.
it seems govt is becoming very comfortable.
just like the normal high cost of kerosene, killings in the north is fast becoming a normal way of life.

when will all this killing ever stop

The fulanis middle belt conquest continues. Benues turn to feel the wrath, probably Kogi next. Lets see what the government does this time!

Oh Lord, please have mercy on this land. Let not the blood of innocent cry out vengeance against us.

Mr. President, please wake up to your responsibility as the Chief Security Officer of the Country. These baseless, senseless and avoidable killings are too many. The next question now is who is next?

yet another article which does not tell the whole story

Home | News Update | Army officer, others killed in Benue Tiv-Fulani clash
Army officer, others killed in Benue Tiv-Fulani clash
By Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi 11 hours 13 minutes ago
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ringim ringim

Five persons, including an Army officer, identified as Lt. Chinedu Anyanwu, were yesterday killed in the continued clash between Fulani herdsmen and Tiv tribesmen in the border communities in Guma Local Government of Benue State.

Many others were declared missing by displaced persons quartered in camps to save them from further attacks by the herdsmen, who reportedly raided in the communities at night.

Among the missing is a soldier with a patrol team deployed to the area.

The herdsmen have also burnt down more than 1,000 homesteads in about 100 compounds, near Udei town, the largest settlement in the area.

Hundreds of displaced persons are now quartered in camps in Ortese, Daudu and Yelwetta, where the Benue State Emergency Management Agency has provided relief materials and health care service.

An eyewitness, Maureen Tar, who fled with her children to Makurdi, the state capital, to stay with relatives, said the herdsmen invaded Udei Sunday morning, overpowering the soldiers and mobile policemen deployed to the area.

She said there were about 100 herdsmen on horsebacks and foot on their way to the villages.

Benue State Deputy Governor Steven Lawani yesterday visited the displaced persons’ camps in Daudu and Yelwetta, assuring them of government’s assistance.

Lawani said the government would liaise with its Nasarawa State counterpart to resolve the border crises, which have led to deaths and loss of property.

Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor Ejembi Ogwuche said the government had received information about the death of the Army officer and the case of another missing soldier.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Mr Alaribe Ejike confirmed the clash at the Benue-Nasarawa boundary.

He said the area of fighting was not within the jurisdiction of the State Command.

Ejike said people on the Benue side of the border have fled their homes for fear of attacks from neighbouring Nasarawa State.

The attacks are believed to be reprisal attacks by the herdsmen after armed farmers killed the herdsmen traditional ruler, Ardo of Kardarko, Alhaji Habibu Dono and four others last month during the armed conflict. Soldiers were drafted to assist mobile policemen to restore peace to the area.

The herdsmen were said to have served notice of reprisal attacks to the communities around Udei.

More than 100 persons have died in four Benue State local councils since January, following conflicts between herdsmen and farmers. Residents of Makurdi are now living in fear as the conflict draws closer to the Benue State capital.



^^
This is sad and any form of violence should be condemned and the suspects investigated to a successful verdict.
Not with standing from the above you can clearly see that it is there usual conflict.The crisis and fighting between the TIVs and other communities around.It did not start today.They are use to it.Between the TIVs,Jukuns and Fulanis.I tell you it has always being nasty.With the TIVs being mostly the aggressors.The TIVs also if you most know share the same, "we are the dominant tribe ideology" and have little regards for any minority around.

It beats my imagination hw fulani herds men wld be inflicting death on harmless citizens. I wldnt mind supplying armunitions to support the tiv.

Hm
i no say dis rubbish no fit eva hapun 4 igbo land neva i ripit neva
den neva readi wen den readi 2 fight den go fight back
hw sumbodi go cm ur house cm beat u where ee dey hapun
nonsence

teeo:

It beats my imagination hw fulani herds men wld be inflicting death on harmless citizens. I wldnt mind supplying armunitions to support the tiv.

for them to kill fulanis abi

but if the same is done to fulani, u will shout that the north is bad

shameless people

the tivs have been targetting our leaders in the area for months, fulani livestock have been killed, fulani areas were raided, why isnt that also reported? tell the whole story  

alj_harem:

for them to kill fulanis abi

but if the same is done to fulani, u will shout that the north is bad

shameless people

namfav:

the tivs have been targetting our leaders in the area for months, fulani livestock have been killed, fulani areas were raided, why isnt that also reported? tell the whole story  

This fulani menace is getting out of hand. Nigeria is now losing army officer to their madness. This is not the 12 century and u can't force your belief system on people via armed conbart and village raids. Somebody should educate dem for God sake. Religion can't be passed on by[b] Fear[/b] but by Faith. 

Calculia:




This fulani menace is getting out of hand. Nigeria is now losing army officer to their madness. This is not the 12 century and u can't force your belief system on people via armed conbart and village raids. Somebody should educate dem for God sake. Religion can't be passed on by[b] Fear[/b] but by Faith. 

who is forcing religious believe on people

u people are commiting act of geocide on some people in the north and yet u are talking of religion

go to southern kaduna, u will see the way muslims are been killed daily

go to aba muslims were killed

and now is is forcing religious belive on people

man, this is a disagreement but the tiv/idoma people took it to the next level by killing there leaders

rubbish

can the same be don to the tiv leaders without the whole nigeria placing abusing and cursing the north