Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Tag: Herdsmen

  • Herdsmen Suspects kidnaps Three In Kogi, Demands N1.2M Ransom

    Herdsmen Suspects kidnaps Three In Kogi, Demands N1.2M Ransom

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    Barely few days aftermath the release of three Victims by kidnappers within Anyigba and Okabo axis in the Eastern flank of the state, after payment of undisclosed amount of ransom, two staff of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, (ASCL), and a resident within the steel plant have again been kidnapped  by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

    It was gathered that the incident happened on Tuesday close to the company’s SAE Calabar quarters as the suspected Fulani herdsmen allegedly ambushed their victims with sophisticated weapons  and Whisked them away to unknown destination.

    The incident, according to sources   had since thrown their neighbours and many staffs leaving within the steel plant in fears.

    It was reliably gathered that the suspected herdsmen’s numbering about five kidnapped about four victims but sympathetically release one, based on health ground and old age.

    A family source who identified the Company staff members as Austin and Prince, told our correspondent  on Friday that the kidnappers were in contact with their victims families, demanding for the sum of N1.2Million before effecting their release.

    “They were four individuals that went to a nearby mountain, close to SAE in Calabar quarters to observe prayers. All of a sudden, we heard that suspected Fulani herdsmen  fully armed with guns, cutlasses, and other dangerous weapons alledgedly kidnapped them”.

    Our sources further revealed that  “four persons were kidnapped, but the bandits had to release one sympathetically because of old age as he could not move faster like the three others. We knew him that he has health issues, and he was falling down repeatedly that might have necessitated his release while others were taken into the bush.”

    “As I Speak to you, the kidnappers are demanding for N1.2Million. Where will they get such amount of money in this hard time?”

    According to anonymous sources,
    “the kidnapped victims are just managing to feed themselves and their families. They are just using farm work to support their current job. With the recent development, many residents are now scared of going to the farm because of the fear of the unknown.”

    “Me that I am giving you this information, my farm produce has been stolen by this Fulani herders . They enter into peoples farm, harvest what they did not plant, if you are there, it is either you get killed or run away for your life. We have been living in fear. Things is currently getting out of hand due to the recent ugly development happening with the residents of the steel plant” he added.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Kogi State, William Aya told our correspondent that the command is yet to receive official report about the reported kidnap, promising to get back to our correspondent as soon as he contact the Divisional Police Officer, (DPO), in Ajaokuta.

  • Farmers Protests Against Destruction of Farmland, Crops By Herdsmen In Kogi

    Farmers Protests Against Destruction of Farmland, Crops By Herdsmen In Kogi

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    Farmers from Egbe Community in Yagba West local council of Kogi State on Monday took to streets against incessant destruction of farmlands and crops by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

    The Irate farmers during the peaceful protest urged the State government to call the herdsmen in the area to order to avoid Farmers/herdmen clashes that may arise as a result of desttuction of farmland and crops waiting for harvest.

    The spokesman of the farmers, Mr.Wale Oti who spoke to newsmen on the incident lamented that the way and manner in which the farms and crops waiting for harvest have been destroyed are unquantifiable and posing eminent famine in the land.

    Oti explained that Egbe is a boundary town between Kogi and Kwara State, with about 50,000 inhabitant whose major source of livelihood is farming stressing that the present destruction of farm produce by the suspected Fulani herdsmen may bring hardship to the citizenry sooner than later.

    He pointed out that farmers Market n the community had endured enough but reacted now because of the worst situation in which they found themselves, coupled with the warm reception by the state government to the herdsmen that came in their numbers to settle in the community.

    “Despite the fact that several reports have been made to the Elegbe of Egbe, oba Ayo Irukera to call the herdsmen to order, we are making another move to further butress our bitterness and pain over what the herdsmen are doing to us.”

    During the peaceful protest on Monday, it was gathered that police came to dislodge them, but farmers  conducted themselves peaceful and went to the palace of Elegbe of Egbe as their final bus stop of the protest.

    “While the protest was on, it was discovered that two Fulani herdsmen were found with gun which they were disarmed and taking to police station for further investigation,” he stated.

  • Herdsmen invade Falae’s farm destroy crops

    Herdsmen invade Falae’s farm destroy crops

    A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae on Monday raised the alarm over the alleged invasion of his farm by some Fulani herdsmen who allegedly destroyed harvested crops worth millions of naira.

    The elder statesman said the attack had been happening for the past few weeks, stating that he had reported to the police and the state chairman of Miyetti Allah but there was no change.

    He said some policemen were sent to the farm, who drove the bandits away but the following day after the police had left, the herdsmen returned to the farm, stole some crops, and destroyed the ones they could not take away.

    The bandits also allegedly attacked the residence of the farmworkers with dangerous weapons and chased away the staff.

    One of the staff said he escaped through the windows when the herdsmen arrived at their residence, stating that the herdsmen allegedly ransacked their rooms and took away their belongings including cash and cutlasses.

    In a letter addressed to the Commander of the state security outfit, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, the former Minister for Finance urged the security outfit to save his farm from the incessant invasion of the herdsmen.

    The letter, titled ‘ Attacks on my farm by Fulani herdsmen’ was made available to our correspondent on Monday.

    The letter read, ” In the last few weeks, Fulani herdsmen came into my maize farm twice to eat up and trample large sessions of the farm. I reported the incidents to Alhaji Bello. Chairman Meiyetti Allah for Ondo State, nothing has happened.

    “In the last few days, they have gone to attack my citrus farm by stealing harvested oranges and destroying what they could not carry away. The police on security duty on the farm were sent to drive them away. But they have been coming back every night to attack my workers in our camp, breaking their door and carting away all their belongings!

    “Please let Amotekun save us and our livelihood. They kidnapped me on 21st September 2015; they should not be allowed to do it again.”

    When contacted the Amotekun Commander, Adeleye, confirmed the receipt of the Falae’s letter, saying ” We are working on it.”

  • BREAKING: Oyo residents panic as herdsmen ‘invade’ Ibadan community

    BREAKING: Oyo residents panic as herdsmen ‘invade’ Ibadan community

    Residents of the Maje, Soka area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital are in panic following the alleged invasion of the area by about 300 suspected herdsmen.

    The Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress in Oyo State, Mr Rotimi Olumo, who told our correspondent that residents of the area alerted him, said he went to the area and saw the three luxury buses that brought the suspected herdsmen to the area.

    Olumo said the people, who suspected that the herdsmen had a suspicious mission in the area, prevented them from disembarking from the vehicles.

    He said he alerted the police and some policemen from Sanyo Police Station were deployed.

    The OPC coordinator said he was surprised to see a large number of Fulani people in the area, saying the area is not Sabo – a popular settlement for northerners.

    Asked if the passengers came with their cattle, he said no but stated that they were suspected to be herdsmen.

    Olumo said, “I received a series of calls this morning that some luxury buses brought some Fulani and Bororo herdsmen numbering about 300 to the area. They came around 07 am today. I went to the place and discovered that all the passengers in the vehicles are Fulani and Bororo.

    “There is no Igbo, no Yoruba among them. This made the people suspicious and we have to be vigilant because of the security situation all over the country. We asked them questions but they refused to disclose their destination. So, we invited the police to come and see them.

    “Policemen came from Sanyo Police Station and their response was very prompt. They took the buses to their station and parked them there before I left. One of the Fulani people came down to talk with the police but I didn’t know what they discussed. But everybody must be vigilant.”

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Olugbenga Fadeyi, when contacted by our correspondent did not pick the phone and was yet to respond to the text message sent to him on this matter.

  • Zamfara Emir Enjoins Farmers, Herdsmen In Zamfara To Maintain Peace

    By Ahmad Ibrahim, Gusau

    Daily Trust - National Symposium on Farmer-Herder Crisis


         The Emir of Tsafe, in Tsafe local government area Of Zamfara state, Yan Doto Alhaji Muhammad Bawa has advised farmers and herdsmen to continue respecting the peace initiative introduced by the state government and live peacefully with one another in the state.     The Emir made this known to Newsmen in Gusau the state capital over the weekend  said nothing can be achieved without peace and unity among communities in the state.   Yan Doton Tsafe also advised his districts head’s in the emirate to always be dedicated to their duties for the progress of the emirate and state at large.      The Emir of Tsafe urged security agencies to maximise efforts in addressing security challenges in the state.     The monarch said there was an urgent need for security agencies to review security measures to bring lasting peace and stability in to the state.   He appealed to the state government to resettle people who were displaced from their towns and villages due to insecurity.   

     The Emir said many people suffered as result of insecurity.    ”We want government to assist victims of insecurity so as to return to their original communities, he said.   Muhammad Bawa also called on people to assist security agencies with intelligence reports and always expose criminal elements around them.      He also commended the leadership of Governor Dr Bello Muhammad (Matawallen Maradun) for his efforts at stemming insecurity in the state.

  • BREAKING: Benue students protest herdsmen killings

    BREAKING: Benue students protest herdsmen killings

    Benue students have taken to the streets to protest killings in the state by suspected herdsmen.

    They asked the Meyitti Allah Vigilante Group to leave the State.

    The placard-bearing protesters blocked major streets leading to traffic grid lock in Makurdi, capital of Benue.

    They were heading to Government House Makurdi as at the time of filing this report.

    Details shortly…

  • Gov. Ortom vows to prosecutes violators of State ranching law

    Gov. Ortom vows to prosecutes violators of State ranching law

    Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue on Thursday vowed to prosecute all violators of the state’s Anti-Open Grazing Law.

    This was contained in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Terver Akase and made available to the our correspondents in Makurdi.

    The governor warned all pastoralists wishing to come into the state to be mindful of the anti-open grazing law still in force and that all livestock owners must adopt ranching.

    According to him “Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 is sacrosanct and must be obeyed by everyone, irrespective of ethnicity, religion and place of origin. The law does not accord preferences to anyone.”

    He insisted that livestock owners who refused to ranch them would be prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the law.

    “It has become necessary to remind pastoralists moving into Benue State with their livestock in the last couple of weeks that there is a law in force in the state which has placed a permanent ban on open grazing of animals.

    “No individual or group of persons is above the law. Whoever wants to do livestock business in Benue should remember that there is a law in place which regulates animal husbandry.

    “The herdsmen who are invading the state with their cattle in gross violation of the law should expect legal consequences of their actions,” he said.

    The governor further disclosed that since the enactment of the law in 2017 no livestock owner has applied for land lease to operate a ranch.

    He added that there were indications that some people were bent on resisting the enforcement of the law.

    “We call on Benue people to remain peaceful, law abiding and volunteer information regarding open grazing of animals to the state Livestock Guards whose job it is to support conventional security operatives in enforcing the legislation.

    “Nigerians who wish to engage in livestock and other businesses in Benue State are encouraged to do so as the Ortom administration is willing to collaborate with investors in different sectors of the economy,” he said.

    “Gov. Ortom would continue to support security agencies to guarantee peace in all parts of the state,” the statement added.

  • Fulani Socio-cultural group commends Gov. Matawalle for returning grazing lands to herders

    Fulani Socio-cultural group commends Gov. Matawalle for returning grazing lands to herders

    The National Patron, Board of Trustees of Fulani socio- cultural group, Billital Maroobe, Pastoralists Association of Nigeria (BILMPAN), Alhaji Yau Malammadori, has commended Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara for returning all grazing lands to Fulani herdsmen in the state.

    Malammadori made the commendation in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Tuesday.

    He said the gesture would drastically reduce the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers across the state.

    He said the initiative would also promote unity and peaceful co-existence between farmers and pastoralists in the state.

    He also thanked the Governor for pledging to establish Ruga (Fulani settlement) in each of the three senatorial districts of the state.

    “We appreciate the gesture by the Governor because he pledged to spend at least N2.8billion in the construction of each of the settlements.

    “This means, he will spend a total of N5.6 billion in the three senatorial districts of the state for the projects.

    “We are happy because the Governor said that he would also provide us with houses, schools, clinics and other basic social amenities, including grazing lands in the settlements.

    “The initiative is a welcome development as it will promote unity and economic growth in the country which we hope every well meaning Nigerian should appreciate,” he said.

    The patron appealed to other governors across the country to emulate their Zamfara counterpart.

    He also appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to continue to support Gov. Matawalle on his efforts to curtail herdsmen/farmers crises, banditry and other crimes in Zamfara. (NAN)