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)
Excellent and welldone to Gov. Ortom, the Benue State House of Assembly and the entire Benue people. I wish to suggest that the Benue State Govt goes a step further to create an outfit charged with the responsibility of enforcing the new anti grazing law in view of the declared Fulani opposition to it. The Nigeria Police are already overwhelmed and need some support. Kano, Kaduna, Lagos and Ekiti are some States that have created some kind of law enforcement units to identify violators of new laws, apprehend them and hand them over to our security agencies. I will seize this opportunity to advice States suffering unwarranted attacks ( Kauna, Plateau, Enugu, Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa, Oyo, Osun, Ondon Taraba) from herdsmen to enact similar legislation and establish enforcement units to ensure compliance.
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