Press Release: Vanguard Against Tiv Massacre (VATIM)

PRESS RELEASE

Being text of a press release by the Vanguard Against Tiv Massacre (VATIM) on threat by a Fulani group, Miyetti Allah Hautal Kore, to resist the anti-open grazing law in Benue and other matters connected thereto.

We wish to start by commending the  Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for ordering security agencies in the country to ensure that the Fulani herdsmen-farmers crisis that has been going on in Benue State and other parts of the country is brought to an end. 

This pronouncement has reassured us that the government belongs to everybody and to nobody and that the continuous existence of the Tiv ethnic nationality who are spread across Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Plateau and Cross River states is of interest to it too. 

We are, however, taken aback that barely 24 hours after that Presidential directive, a pro-Fulani group, Miyetti Allah Hautal Kore addressed the press in Abuja and vowed to resist and challenge the “Open Grazing Prohibition Establishment Law,  2017,” recently assented to by the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom. 

Miyetti-Allah Hautal Kore did not only threaten to oppose the law, but have also vowed to mobilise herdsmen to resist the law even as they law claim to the Benue valley, a claim we find ridiculous and consider an affront on the sensibilities of the indigenous people of Benue state. 

 This, in our well considered view, is an affront on the law and open invitation to violence and anarchy.

We therefore call on the police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and indeed all security agencies in the country to call this group which is threatening the peace in Benue and Nigeria at large to order. 

It is our expectation that with this open confession to take up arms against the state, the security agencies now know exactly where to beam their searchlight in the event of any attack on hapless farmers. 

For the avoidance of doubt, the “Open Grazing Prohibition Establishment Law,  2017,” as passed by the Benue State House of Assembly and already assented to by the governor became a child of necessity following the overwhelming, needless and barbaric killings of Tiv and indeed the Benue people in their farms, home steads, market places, at funeral ceremonies and even while in transit, and without any serious effort from the federal government and or security agencies to bring the perpetrators to book. The law is therefore a Benue home-grown solution to a problem that was caused by invaders of our farmlands. We wholeheartedly commend the Government of Benue state under the leadership Governor Samuel Ortom for his show of uncommon courage and political will in assenting to the bill. 

This law is our baby and we will do everything within the limits of the law as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, to ensure that it is enforced to the letter by those who will be charged with this responsibility.  

We wish to state categorically that this law is meant to promote peaceful coexistence of farmers and herders who are prepared to practice livestock farming by ranching their livestock. It does not seek to infringe on the constitutional rights or violate the economic interest of pastoralists as erroneously claimed by Miyetti-Allah Kautal Hore. 

Just as they claim that cattle herding is their culture and a means of livelihood, the people of Benue state, particularly the Tiv, are predominantly farmers and a situation where pastoralists lead their livestock to feed on their farms is clearly against their economic interest.  

Benue state is an agrarian state but for the past few years the farmers have not been able to go to their farms due to the nefarious activities of the killer herdsmen who the federal government curiously calls foreigners despite the same Miyetti-Allah Kautal Hore and other such indigenous organisations coming out at various occasions to claim responsibility by giving reasons why they murder our people.

If the group is of opinion that it can help the state government to fish out the criminals causing mayhem in Tivland and beyond,  they are welcome to do so.  

Disturbingly,  12 out of the 23 local government areas in Benue state have come under this fierce siege occasioned against peace-loving people without any provocation. 

This Fulani association and many others related to it must realise that they are not bigger than the state and we call on security agencies to arrest and prosecute leaders of groups like this who openly threaten peaceful coexistence through their inciteful utterances. 

 Our people are capable of defending themselves but as law abiding citizens, have waited on government for protection hence the clamour for the passage of the POPULAR LAW. We therefore shall vehemently resist any attempt by any group to disobey this law.

VATIM re-echoes once again her earlier demands that the federal government immediately commence the process of rehabilitating our communities that have been sacked by the killer herdsmen as well as adequately resettle the displaced persons.

We shall always remain law abiding citizens but government should fulfil its part of the social contract with us.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Long live Benue State 

Long live VATIM

Signed:

Barr. Ephraim Fater Sarwuan (Chairman) 

Lubem Gena (Secretary General)