Black Christmas for Nasarawa Communities

Igbawase Ukumba reports that for crop farmers in six communities in Obi, Awe and Lafia Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State, it was indeed a black Christmas after some militia herdsmen launched coordinated attacks that claimed about 45 lives just days preceding the peak of the season’s celebration

For Chabo, Daa, Wuchi, Tse-Udugh, Hagher and Shankodi in largely Tiv communities of Obi, Awe and Lafia Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State, December 18, 2021, came with bad tidings. Some militia herdsmen launched coordinated attacks that claimed about 45 lives of crop farmers in the aforementioned communities.

To those affected, it went beyond the attack as it brought back bad memories of previous attacks carried out by the militia herdsmen on the respective communities.

Previous Attack
On April 23, 2021, crop farmers in Nasarawa State were attacked when suspected herdsmen launched coordinated attacks on Tiv farming community of Ajimaka, in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, killing 14 Tiv farmers, majorly women and children.

This was even as several persons were equally declared missing, while scores sustained various degrees of injuries, as houses belonging to the Tiv farmers were burnt alongside their farm produce and other valuables by the bandits during the said invasion.

Also, the militia herdsmen also circulated quit notices to the Tiv farming community in the Local Government Areas of Doma and Keana of the state to vacate their places of abode or face total annihilation. The threat led to the displacement of over 50,000 Tiv farmers from their ancestral abode from the two LGAs.

The suspected militia herdsmen, who were said to be carrying sophisticated weapons, invaded the Ajimaka community at about 2:00am of that fateful day, shooting sporadically and killing majorly women and children while scampering for safety during the invasion.

Consequent upon the Ajimaka massacre, Governor Abdullahi Sule condemned in strong terms the brutal killings of women and children during the attack on the Ajimaka community by the gunmen. In a statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Addra, Sule was quoted as describing the act perpetrated by the gunmen as reprehensible, callous and inexcusable.

The governor said: “An attack that does not spare women and children bears the
trademark of devilish elements who are bent on truncating the relative peace
in the state.”

Sule however assured that security operatives have since commenced
investigations that will expose the criminals with a view to punishing them
according to the laws of the land.

“My condolences and prayers are with families of those whose lives were
lost. I urge them and the rest of our citizens to be rest assured that this
administration will do all within its power to ensure justice, peace and security across the state. I therefore call for calm and support to law enforcement agents in the collective fight against evil,” Sule maintained in the statement.

Consequent upon the governor’s strong worded message, the massacre of crop farmers went underground for a while leaving behind pockets of attacks and killings of the crop farmers by the suspected herdsmen on the farms in a slightest provocation over grazing of cattle on crops on the farm.

Resurgence
However, the mass massacre of the crop farmers reared its ugly head again on December 18, 2021 when gunmen suspected to be herdsmen attacked six communities in Nasarawa State, with 45 persons feared killed.

Report has it that the gunmen invaded Chabo, Daa, Wuchi and Tse-Udugh and Hagher and Shankodi in largely Tiv communities of Obi, Awe and Lafia Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State where the attackers allegedly carried out the attacks in reprisal to avenge the killing of their own, one Idris Umaru, whose dead body was found in the area.

Investigation revealed that the attackers, who had a field day beginning from weekend on Saturday, went from one village to another till Sunday night killing over 45 people unchallenged by security forces. It was also gathered that beside the number of persons killed, several others escaped with various degrees of gunshot wounds while some were taken to the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia for treatment. This is just as others languished in the bush.

Presidential Condemnation
President Muhammadu Buhari was devastated by the unprovoked attacks hence he condemned the murder of the 45 farmers following the same renewed attacks in Lafia, Obi, and Awe Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State.

In a statement by a presidential aide, Garba Shehu, the Nigerian leader reiterated his government’s resolve to tackle insecurity in the country.

“I assure the people with all seriousness and sensitivity that this administration is doing its best to safeguard the security of people and will leave no stone unturned in fishing out the perpetrators of this senseless and barbaric incident, and bring them to justice,” the statement quoted Buhari as saying.

President Buhari, who also sent his condolences to the affected families, the state, and the nation over the incident, however, “expressed satisfaction with the immediate response of the state government to the incident”.

Emergency Security Meeting
At an emergency meeting with security chiefs, traditional rulers as well as Tiv and Fulani community leaders in Obi, the headquarters of Obi LGA, Governor Sule warned trouble makers to stay clear of the state.

This was even as he promised to take prompt and decisive action in apprehending and prosecuting anyone caught breaching the peace being enjoyed in the state.

In a statement issued to journalists by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Addra, he said the meeting was a prompt response and part of sustained efforts to curtail the violence that erupted in parts of Obi and Lafia Local Government Areas of the state at that weekend.

Governor Sule said: “What is more troubling is that in spite of our untiring efforts that has kept us on our toes before and through the weekend, there was needless loss of lives of our citizens. Such act of violence is most unfortunate, condemnable, unacceptable and will not be condoned by this administration.”

The governor admonished the people to live in peace with one another and to shun mischief makers looking for opportunities to cause mayhem.

“Let me at this point condole with the families who lost their members and properties. As an administration, we will do everything possible to get to the bottom of this and forestall any future security breach. We will send relief materials to those persons displaced by the crisis for a short period as government will prefer to work with all stakeholders to ensure people return to their communities and businesses as quickly as possible.”

Police React
On the other hand, the Nasarawa State Police Command came up with a press statement narrating the scenario that led to the recent attacks on some communities in the state. According to the police, the ugly episode started at about 1140hrs when a complaint was received that one Umaru Idrisu ‘M’ of Gidan Washi Village, Obi LGA was attacked and killed by unknown armed men.

Upon receipt of the complaints, as contained in the statement signed by the Nasarawa State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Nansel Ramhan and issued to journalists, “the Commissioner of Police, CP Adesina Soyemi ordered the Divisional Police Officer, Obi Division to move to the scene where the corpse was removed and taken to the hospital for post mortem examination, but later released to the family for burial according to Islamic rites.

“Security has been provided in the village to prevent breakdown of law and order as investigation has since commenced to unravel the mystery behind the attack and bring the perpetrators to book.

“While investigation was ongoing, a suspected reprisal was carried out by unknown persons in Hangara village, Lafia East Development Area, Lafia LGA and crossed over to the neighboring Kwayero Village of Obi LGA and the following persons namely: Sani Dauda, Danjuma Liambee, Uloho Jerry, Shedrack Kente, Boniface John, Tersoo Clement, Gwanje Soja and Ayuba Ali were attacked and killed; their corpse were recovered and taken to the hospital by the police.”

The statement continued that “in view of the foregoing, the commissioner of police moved to the scene of the incidents, contacted and held meetings with critical stakeholders in the various communities and urged them to suspend further hostilities and live in peace and assured them that a comprehensive investigation is ongoing, as the perpetrators of the act would not go unpunished.

“Furthermore, a joint team of the Nigeria Police Force and the military have been mobilised to the affected areas with a view to restoring peace and possible arrest of the perpetrators of the dastardly act. The commissioner of police has also condoled the family of the affected persons and prayed for the repose of their souls,” the statement concluded.

Death Toll
The president of Tiv Development Association (TIDA) in Nasarawa State, Comrade Peter Ahemba, told our correspondent that over 20 dead bodies had so far been recovered from the scene of the attacks. He continued that although calm had return to the affected communities, Governor Abdullahhi Sule had directed the deployment of security personnel to stop further attacks in the areas.

“So far 20 corpses have been recovered from the affected villages but many more people are still missing. As I speak, we don’t know whether the missing persons are alive or dead. It’s a very terrible situation. More corpses are still being recovered.

“There is calm in the affected communities because Governor Sule has directed the deployment of security to the areas to prevent further attacks. There is also air surveillance to locate the criminals from the hideouts and I hope that these efforts by government will help the situation,” the socio-cultural leader of Tiv people in Nasarawa State said.

However, tension heightened again following the recovery of eight more dead bodies during the attack on Tiv communities of Chabo, Daa, Uloho, Hagher and Shankodi and other adjoining villages in Obi, Awe and Lafia East, Lafia Local Government Areas of the state by the suspected herdsmen.

The TIDA president, who led a team of security operatives to the affected communities, said eight more dead bodies were recovered at Chabo in Obi Local Government Area.

Ahemba, who expressed deep grieve over what he described as terrible, told journalists in a chat in Lafia that more corpses are expected to be recovered as search continues.

He said: “Today, I led a team of security operatives to some of the villages of our people where they were attacked and killed. We were able to recover eight more corpses by the river bank at Chabo where we buried them. Recovery of more corpses will continue at Daar, Usula and other villages. The situation in the places visited is so terrible.”

“When I presented the situation of the killings and the casualty figure before the governor during a security meeting at Obi, some people, unfortunately including an appointee of Tiv extraction, who saw my presentation as a threat to his position in government went round castigating me for boldly telling the governor the true situation of the killings.

“Today, I have been vindicated with the number of corpses buried today under the watchful eyes of the combined team of security operatives I personally led to Chabo village . Let’s pray for God’s intervention,” the TIDA president maintained.

Comrade Ahemba, however, appealed for calm, saying government has taken measures to forestall escalation of the attacks. This is just as he called for provision of relief materials for the displaced persons taking refuge in different parts of the state.

Survivor Recounts Ordeal
A survivor of the attack, Adugh Ortoho, told THISDAY that the attackers came in their numbers carrying AK 47 and machetes as they shot and macheted anyone at sight.

According to Ortoho, “we woke up today (Sunday) and getting for the business of the day, suddenly we heard gunshots from all angles in our village. As I speak many people have been killed while others ran to the bushes with bullet wounds.

“I am surprised with the attack because there has been no any problem anywhere. Infact, some people went to farm just to see gunmen firing from all directions.”

Continuing, the flabbergasted survivor concluded: “I saw many dead people as I was running for my dear life. As I speak, I can’t locate my family members because we ran to different directions.”

Quotes

The gunmen, suspected to be herdsmen attacked six communities in Nasarawa State, with 45 persons feared killed.. the attackers, who had a field day… went from one village to another killing over 45 people unchallenged

There is calm in the affected communities because Governor Sule has directed the deployment of security to the areas to prevent further attacks. There is also air surveillance to locate the criminals from the hideouts and I hope that these efforts by government will help the situation