Groups allege plot by Fulani herdsmen to attack Benue

Some ethnic groups in Benue State have accused the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria of plotting to attack residents of the state.

Various socio-cultural organisations in Benue State, including Mdzough U Tiv Forum, Idoma National Forum and Omi Ny Igede Forum, made the allegation on Sunday in Nasarawa State during a visit to the Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Mustapha Agwai.

The groups said the Fulani herdsmen planned to launch an attack on Benue indigenes, to protest against the implementation of the anti-open grazing law of the state.

The head of the delegation and President of Mdzough U Tiv, Chief Edward Ujege, explained that the alleged planned attack was meant to annihilate all the defenceless residents of Benue State.

He said, “We believe the plan is to make the law unenforceable and create anarchy in Benue State, this invariably could lead to conflicts between farmers and herdsmen as a result of intrusion into farms by the herdsmen and their cattle.

“We are reliably informed that already there is a mass gathering of cattle and militia at Kungwa in the Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State and we are deeply concerned about these alleged heightened preparations to invade Benue with a large mass of cattle and militia.”

He informed the emir that the people of Benue State had in the past paid dearly for the atrocities of the herdsmen with the lives of over 2,000 men, women and children.

“Till date, over 500 persons are still missing while more than half a million people were displaced and the future of almost a million youths truncated,” Ujege said.

Responding, Emir Agwai noted that the incessant clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in Nasarawa and Benue states were beyond the power of traditional rulers in the two states.

He called on Benue and Nasarawa governments to investigate and prevent the alleged plot to attack the states.

However, Nasarawa State MACBAN Chairman, Mr. Mohammed Hussaini, dismissed the allegations, noting that the anti-open grazing law was passed without due consultation.

Also reacting to the allegation, the National President of Fulani socio-cultural group, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhaji Abdullahi Bodejo,  denied that Fulani herdsmen were plotting to invade Benue State over the anti-open grazing law.

He said the Fulani herdsmen were at the receiving end of clashes between them and farmers, noting that his people preferred challenging the law in court than resorting to self-help.

“We are law-abiding and have always been championing peace and amicable resolution of conflicts between pastoralists and farmers, the records are there. This was why we went to the court over this matter rather than resorting to self-help,” he said.