In an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Saleh Bayeri, the Interim National Secretary of Gan Allah Fulani Association, rose in defence of his kinsmen, saying the February bloody conflict in Benue was a reprisal attack by his people against the Agatus who he accused of killing, in 2013, a prominent Fulani man.
"However, the Agatu militia beheaded Ardo right in front of the district head.
"This action reverberated across all Fulani people in the whole of West Africa and the clamour for revenge began to grow strong. He comes from a very well respected clan and the Agatu sent the Fulani a chilling message with his murder," he said.
"Till date, no action was taken, even by the village police station on this murder," he said.
He also said the Fulani have records of how the Agatu killed over 300 of their people, adding, "but because we don't have people in government or the media, no one said anything when genocide was being carried out against our people".
The leader of Fulani Community in South East and deputy leader of Miyetti Allah Cattle Dealers, South East, Alhaji Ardo Saidu Baso, in this interview with Sunday Telegraph, gives an insight into what may have caused the invasion and massacre of Ukpabi—Nimbo residents by suspected herdsmen recently and his efforts to avert the ugly incident.
What do you think was the cause of the herdsmen attack on Ukpabi-Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State recently?
What happened at Uzo-Uwani was that before Christmas last year, I heard that about four Fulani people were killed -four Fulani boys. Later, they killed two more boys. I heard they were from Nasarawa.
The father of the two boys got the sad news and decided to come to find out what happened that resulted to the killing of his two sons. That was his first visit to this part of the country. When he arrived, the same people that killed his sons killed the man also.
The two boys that were killed, the name of one of them is Hassan; I can't remember the name of the other boy. I don't know the name of their father. The two boys that were killed, it was policemen from the Uzo-Uwani Police Station that came and took their corpses away.
But their father was killed across the border with Kogi State, at a place called Odolo. So it was the Odolo DPO that came and carried the corpse. But I don't know whether it was the Fulani people at Nasarawa that came to attack Ukpabi-Nimbo people.
Before it happened, the governor (IfeanyiUgwuanyi) had called us and asked whether we heard about the rumour that there would be an attack on Nimbo people. I said, yes, that I heard it. The chairman of the local government (Cornel Onwubuya) also asked whether I heard the rumour, I said, yes, that I heard it. He asked what I could do to forestall the attack. So I tried to reach one man from Nasarawa State who had earlier informed me that Fulani people were killed. I tried his number again but it was not 'going through', and I don't know him in person, even if I see him now, only his phone number that I have. But I continued to get information that people from Nasarawa are gathering in preparation for an attack. I rushed to the chairman of the local government area again to inform him.
I told the Special Adviser (can't remember his name) to the governor also about the rumour. But the local government chairman asked me what he would do now, that he had told the governor about it. He pleaded with me to go to Nasarawa to find out whether I would see those people. He gave me transport money to enable me go see if I could invite them so that we would resolve the matter. I embarked on the trip, but on reaching Otukpo in Benue State, I heard that the people had already gathered at Amaeke in Nsukka. They gathered in a bush.
When you got the information that the people gathered in the bush around Amaeke what did you do next?
So I turned back to report to the chairman. He asked me which village the people want to attack, I told him I heard Ukpabi and Nimbo. I heard also that those Fulanis killed at Uzo-Uwani in December that they removed their private parts and head. So I heard, I did not see the corpses myself. It could be a rumour.
So I gave the local government chairman the information on Saturday, and by Sunday I made effort to reach the man from Nasarawa to hold on and not attack the community, that they should come for discussion, and that government was interested. But early morning that Sunday, the man's phone was switched off. So on Monday morning, I heard that the thing had happened. You know I reported this impending attack to the chairman of the local government area, to SA to the governor, to the Area Commander Nsukka and the Commissioner of Police before the thing happened. My own is that if you say they are accusing Fulani, I'm not denying that it is Fulani because of those two boys and their father (Fulani) killed in that place.
I heard that it could be them that came for the attack, if I see the people I don't know them. But truly that Nimbo area, I heard they had killed many Fulani people, because since the last 10 years till now, about 30 Fulani people have been killed around Uzo- Uwani generally. I'm telling you the truth. But the Fulanis living in Enugu State were not among those killed. And we don't like the attack. That is why we are not running away, only the Fulanis around Uzo-Uwani that are running away because they were hearing rumours of possible revenge attack.
No Fulani living in Enugu is part of that problem, I'm telling you the truth and it is because of God I'm telling you the truth. I have stayed 34 years now in Enugu State, even though I'm from Katsina State. Anybody who fights Enugu State people is fighting me. I don't have any other place to go, it's Enugu State that I have my family, my children, everything; how will I like the people fighting Enugu people. There is no Fulani living in Enugu that is happy over what happened.
So do you think that this attack could have been prevented if the necessary authorities had done what they were supposed to do?
Yes, I think so because there were reports that it would happen but nothing was done. Before this attack, government called us that it had set up committees in the 17 local government areas and some Fulanis with me went to some local government areas to discuss with the committees. Those in the committee are supposed to be the local government chairman, the youth leader, the president-general and the Igwe, now the thing is not working. I transport myself to see the local government chairman because of this problem. But at times, they prefer to use somebody who came to Enugu newly, but they don't involve me who have stayed in the state for 34 years on how to resolve the problem with herdsmen.
For instance, if a new person comes, he doesn't know anything or anybody, he doesn't know what is happening, he doesn't know any Fulani; that is what is happening. Mine is that the Enugu State government is supposed to call Fulani and add them as members of the committee. It is the Fulani who knows other people entering Enugu State for cattle rearing, they register those who enter any local government so that if there is any problem, they will know who to hold responsible.
If that committee is in place and new Fulanis enter Enugu State, before one month, I must have known about it and they will go and register. If he registers that name by now that this thing happened, you will go and apprehend them, is it not so?
Secondly I'm urging government, if they set up this committee, it should provide us with mobility, like Hilux van. Like now, that very time they gathered before the attack, I could carry my people, may be 15 of them, to go to that place they gathered. But there was no vehicle. If government helps us with mobility, I will like it. If we are mobile, anytime there is a problem anywhere, in the next one hour or two hours, we would have reached the place to intervene. Like now, if I want to go to Uzo- Uwani, if I don't charter a vehicle there, is no way I can get there same day, maybe it will be the next day.
There are rumours that Fulanis may attack again. Some said they had written some communities threatening that they would attack them again. How true is that?
That is not true. If there is any such letter, it must be fake. You know some people want to create crisis among the Fulanis and the people of Enugu State. There is no Fulani planning any attack. No Fulani person is happy with this attack on Nimbo.
Are you saying that you register every Fulani person that comes to Enugu?
No, if government does not form the committee or direct us to do so, how will you register them? Any person can enter anyhow. I'm from Katsina State and most of the Fulani you see in the state are from Katsina State. All these Fulanis you are seeing, may be if you count them, out of 500 people, you will not get up to Fulanis from another state.
So what is causing this problem between farmers and Fulani herdsmen?
Another thing is that anywhere you see Fulani, he moves with his cows. He didn't go to school; he has no other work, only to rear his cattle. In the past, they go about their business peacefully. You won't hear that youths went after their cows, hunting cows as if they are hunting wild animals. If you hear that farmers and rearers are fighting, you may conclude that the cows entered the farm, is it not true? But that was before, nowadays, the youths will gather to and kill the cows and share the meat. If the cow destroys any farm and the Fulani refuses to pay compensation, why not invite the police? Why don't you tie the cow in the farm as evidence? Instead, you kill the cow and sell the meat without complaining to the owner of the cow, what do you call that one? Is it not stealing? Secondly, in the days past, the Igwes controlled the youths but now, the youths have over grown the power of the Igwes; they can't control them anymore. Let me give you an example, if you, the Fulanis, come to Igwe to request to stay in his community, if Igwe calls the community, the community will say if Igwe collects the money, he shouldn't sell the land. But they will go back and hide behind and send the youths to go and collect money again from the Fulanis, sometimes N100, 000, sometimes N200, 000 and sometimes N300, 000. I'm telling you the truth. They will collect the money and tell the Fulanis to go and stay, that there is nothing the Igwe can do; after all, they are the people that will fight the Fulanis or kill the cows. Igwe can't control them anymore.
(Culled from Sunday Telegraph)
"Fulani herdsmen had two weeks ago killed 11 persons and burned down two villages in Godogodo Chiefdom, Jema'a Local Government Area in Southern Kaduna and just last week Saturday, they again killed six farmers in Godogodo village.
But reacting to the killings [the chairman of the Kaduna Chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association], Dr Haruna Usman Usman said Fulani herdsmen are not "crazy" to embark on aimless killings, stressing that they are avenging the death of their Chief who was allegedly killed in one of the villages, Vanguard reports.
Usman, said, "Are Fulani crazy to just go and attack people? Did you ask the Godogodo people what they did to the Fulani? We already have 17 grazing reserves in Kaduna State since colonial times, and there is no dispute about that.
"What happened was that these people went and killed a Fulani Chief in one of the villages and burnt his house. The Fulani are just revenging."
4. March 27, 2017 Press Statement from Miyetti Allah Kwara State Chairman Usman Adamu
"See what is happening in Nasarawa, Zamfara, Jos and other states. If you see what our Fulanis did in Imo, and if you are Muslims, honestly, you will cry, and if somebody said it was Fulanis that did that, you will not believe it."
http://dailypost.ng/2017/03/27/expect-bloody-reprisal-herdsmen-give-kwara-govt-ultimatum-killings/
http://www.informationng.com/?s=+Miyetti+Allah+Kautal+Hore
https://agronigeria.com.ng/tag/miyetti-allah-cattle-breeders-association-of-nigeria-macban/"Gololo say, "as we dey relocate go Taraba State through Nassarawa State, for border town of Nengere, thief come collect 1000 cows from us, so we sef fight dem back."
On Monday 1 January 2018, tori say Fulani herdsmen attack some communities for Benue State, come kill about 20 people.
Other communities wey di fight affect na Gaambe -Tiev, Ayilamo, Turan, Umenger, Tse-Akor and Tomaater near Tse -Abi for Logo and Guma Local Government Areas."
6. Fulani Nationality Movement
Statement by the Fulani Nationality Movement, (FUNAM)
June 27, 2018
Signed by Badu Salisu Ahmadu, National President of FUNAM
Highlights:
"Our attention has been drawn to the series of campaigns being waged against the FULANI NATIONALITY following the killings in PLATEAU where some civilians who have been tormenting the FULANI nation were justifiable hacked down...
We wish to make the following categorical statements on the Plateau incidence:
That we have said it several times that Plateau is an indigenous territory of the FULANI people. We are the first to settle in Plateau-Benue axis thousands of years ago. We shall take and possess every inch of this land; A conscious attempt to rewrite history and distort, manipulate or destroy our past will be resisted with all the might at our disposal.
We have said it over and over, that Nigeria is the only inheritance we have in Africa and anywhere in the world. This land belongs to us, from Sokoto to the banks of the Atlantic Ocean. This was the destiny bestowed on Uthman Dan Fodio which would have been fulfilled since 1816 if not for the obstruction of this great assignment by the British. It is no longer time to play the ostrish. Our men are waiting. We are eager to fight. We are boiling with the zeal to actualize our dream; enough of double dealing and ambivalence by FULANI political leaders who unfortunately think the FULANI can only take back what belongs to us through appeasement and elections destined to reflect cultural values antithetical to the preachings of Uthman Dan Fodio.
We warn that nothing will be able to save those raising their voices against us and Allah. Nothing will be left behind, from the East, West and Middle Belt except those who accept the creation of Allah and the leadership place of Fulani in fulfilling this destiny. Since this irresponsible Western notion of democracy was imposed, the Fulani have been shortchanged and maligned. The Middle-Belt, the West and the East should be prepared. We are already here.
Let the Birom and the ethnic minority invaders in the entire Middle Belt leave our territory or be prepared to accept our ways of live. It is time for them to savour their wounds. It is just the beginning. Many more will come and nothing can stop us.
Insha Allah, we shall take this battle across the sea, on the land, in the air, on the mountains, in every territory currently occupied by the Kafirs. This is our position. This is our destiny. For those who think they can stop or continue to conspire against us, we wish them good luck.
7.
Farooq Kperogi:
Summation by writer and social critic Wole Soyinka in "Impunity Rides Again", Guardian, Nigeria, 11th January 2018:
"...how do we categorize Myeti? How do we assess a mental state that cannot distinguish between a stolen cow – which is always recoverable – and human life, which is not. Villages have been depopulated far wider than those outside their operational zones can conceive . They swoop on sleeping settlements, kill and strut. They glory in their seeming supremacy. Cocoa farmers do not kill when there is a cocoa blight. Rice farmers , cassava and tomato farmers do not burn. The herdsmen cynically dredge up decades- old affronts – they did at the 2016 Benue "peace meeting" to justify the killings of innocents in the present – These crimes are treated like the norm . Once again, the nation is being massaged by specious rationalisations while the rampage intensifies and the spread spirals out of control. When we open the dailies tomorrow morning , there is certain to have been a new body count , to be followed by the arrogant justification of the Myeti Allah."
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