This little-known conflict in Nigeria is now deadlier than Boko Haram By Siobhán O'Grady

Fulani men stand in a group in the village of Luggere in Nigeria's Plateau State on June 29. The area has seen days of violence in which more than 200 people have been killed in clashes between farmers and herders. (Stefan Heunis/AFP)

Since 2009, Boko Haram extremists have killed thousands of people in northeast Nigeria, devastating the Lake Chad region and setting off a large-scale humanitarian crisis.

But since January, another, lesser-known conflict has overtaken the Boko Haram crisis as the deadliest conflict in Nigeria, killing six times more Nigerians than Boko Haram did in the same period.

For years, periodic clashes between farmers and herders have disrupted Nigeria's Middle Belt, the part of the country that divides the north and south and is home to the capital, Abuja. But the conflict has recently intensified, destabilizing the region and leaving 1,300 people dead this year, according to a new report from the International Crisis Group, or ICG.

“What were once spontaneous attacks have become premeditated scorched-earth campaigns in which marauders often take villages by surprise at night,” the report said.

Competition for resources has played a major role in the conflict. For centuries, nomadic herders have traveled through Africa on traditional cattle routes, searching for fertile grazing lands for their cows. But desertification and the Boko Haram crisis in Nigeria's northeast, among other factors, have begun to push the herders farther south, where they encounter settled communities that are already struggling with their own population booms.

Incidents that may have once seemed manageable and isolated, such as a herd of cows trampling through a farmer's field, now have the potential to escalate into large-scale disputes. Conflicts between herder and farmer communities have included the burning and razing of entire villages and purposeful destruction of one another's' livelihoods. Herders have at times intentionally damaged farmers' fields, and farmers have slaughtered and stolen cattle.

As the ICG said in its report, the source of the clashes may be the battle for resources, but the conflict also has ethnic and religious undertones: Herders tend to be Muslims from the Fulani ethnic group, while farmers in the region tend to be Christian. Hundreds of thousands of people are now displaced in what the research group calls “Nigeria's gravest security challenge.” The resulting polarization “could affect forthcoming elections and undermine national stability,” the report said.

The situation has worsened this year in part because of laws in two states, Taraba and Benue, that ban open grazing of cattle, according to the ICG. The laws, which in theory were intended to prevent conflict, may have in fact made it worse. Herders see anti-grazing laws as a direct attack on their lifestyle and work; farmers see them as the only way to prevent their fields from being trampled by cows.

When a grazing ban was implemented in Benue state in November 2017, it left herders with few options. Ranches where their cattle could graze were not ready; fearing their cows would die of thirst or starvation, or that they would be arrested and have their cattle seized, many herders moved into other nearby states where they were still competing with farmers for land. The ICG said that the government needs to avoid implementing blanket grazing bans and should instead roll out new policies in phases to allow herders time to adjust.

The growing number of militias, along with the growing number of firearms available to them, have also “enabled the carnage,” the report said. Both sides also complain about a lack of justice for attacks on their communities.

Women and children are particularly vulnerable. Some lose their fathers and husbands to the violence; some are raped when their villages are attacked. Children have died of diarrhea and measles, and some camps set up for displaced people are merely converted schools, with as many as 100 people sharing a single classroom.

None of this bodes well for Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who was elected in 2015 on promises to stabilize the country and prevent future insecurity. At that time, Boko Haram was one of the most pressing concerns. But as the country prepares for presidential elections in early 2019, the farmer-herder conflict is expected to stay at the forefront of political conversations.

“The killings have severely undermined one of President Buhari’s major 2015 campaign pledges — to bring security and stability to the country,” the report said.

Some Christians see Buhari, a Fulani Muslim who keeps cattle himself, as being too sympathetic to the herdsmen. According to Reuters, Buhari's spokesman said this year that it is “disturbing” to suggest that he has failed to crack down on the attacks because of his ethnicity

Imo APC Chair’s Murder: Okorocha Offers N20m For Whistleblowers

Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha

Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has promised N20 million to anyone with useful information that would lead to the arrest of the culprits who murdered the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman of Idea to North  Local Government, Chief Sunny Ejiagwu.

The governor, in a press statement, he issued through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, emphatically said that the murder of the APC chieftain was purely a case of assassination following the circumstances surrounding his death.

“Considering the fact that nothing was taken away from the man or removed from his car, it should not have been therefore a Case of armed robbery, and looking too at the fact that there was no sign of resistance or struggling between the killers and the victim and the method of shooting, the issue of kidnapping should also be ruled out,” Governor Okorocha said.

According to Governor Okorocha, “The man’s head and body were shattered with bullets following several gunshots just to make sure that he had no chance of being revived, and that could only be done by wicked assassins.”

Governor Okorocha, who spoke when political and community leaders of Ideato-North came to officially inform him about the gruesome murder of Ejeagwu, at the Government House, Owerri, assured that those behind the act would be brought to book.

He continued, “Last night we received a very disturbing news about the untimely death of one of our Party leaders in Ideato-North by name Sunny Ejeagwu (Ohaneze) who was murdered at about 8.00pm last night.

“We have come to a very painful moment of this our political life, to say that those who are behind the killing must be brought to book”.

“This is painful and Ohaneze(Ejiagwu) has no reason to die now. He has just been elected the Chairman of APC, Idearo-North and he is one that is loved by all, but for someone to have gone to take his life, we condemn it in its entirety and we have requested the Security agencies to fish out the killers.

“We as a government must ensure that these culprits, these wicked souls must be brought to book. We must never allow innocent souls to be destroyed or even people being killed just for nothing.”

He further added, “I’m here placing a price tag that whoever can give any useful information as to the killers of Chief Ejeagwu, this government will release the sum of N20million immediately just to make sure we arrest whoever killed this innocent soul.

“The Security agencies have been directed and mandated within the shortest possible time to produce the killers of this man.

“We are asking all Imolites to go about their businesses without fear, as security arrangements are in top gear to ensure the security of lives and properties in the state”.

The governor also added, “As politics comes up, this is a similar incident that happened many years ago wherein the same Akokwa, a notable politician was killed and it looks like it has become the character of Ideato-North to kill around that area whenever politics comes on.

“I’m yet to classify this killing as politically motivated killing. But even if that is the case, the perpetrators must be brought to book, and we shall use this to show an example that we mean business to fish out the men of the underworld,

“Therefore, I and the State government have sent our collective sympathy and heartfelt sympathy to the wife and children and the family of Chief Ejeagwu for this underserved, unmerited and wicked death that he had to go through in the hands of his murderers.

“But everyone must know that life is sacred and no one has the right to take another’s life, and whoever does that, whether now or later, must pay the prize.

“So, I sympathise with the family and government will be with this family in this their period of trials and pains. Once more, let me assure all Imolites, all members of APC that we must bring to book, the killers of Ohaneze, and not too far from now”, Governor Okorocha stated.  (The Sun)

Total Restriction On Saturday As Oyo Holds Monthly Sanitation

The Oyo State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Chief Isaac Ishola has disclosed that National Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise would hold Saturday 28th July, 2018.

According to a statement issued and signed by the State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Chief Isaac Ishola, the sanitation exercise would hold between the hours of 6:am and 9:am and there shall be total restriction of human and vehicular movement during the exercise except those on essential duties.

The statement directs all Chairmen, Director of Environmental Health Services in all the 33 Local Governments and 35 Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) within the State to monitor the exercise as a matter of duty.

The Statement, therefore, enjoined Shop Owners, Market Men and Women, Security Operatives, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Association of Commercial Motorcycle Riders of Nigeria (ACOMMORAN) to comply with the sanitation order and the general public should use the opportunities to clean-up their surroundings.

Furthermore, the Hon. Commissioner reminded the residents that every means to prevent flood incidence especially during this raining season should be undertaken as a matter of civic responsibility.

Benue Assembly: Impeached House Speaker, Ikyange Gets 6 Months Suspension

The Former Speaker of Benue State House of Assembly, Mr Terkimbi Ikyange

The impeached Speaker, Benue House of Assembly, Mr Terkimbi Ikyange, has been suspended by his colleagues for six months for what they called “unparliamentary behaviour”.

The legislators took the decision on Friday in Makurdi during their sitting at the Old Banquet Hall of Government House, Makurdi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the legislators could not hold their parliamentary session at the Assembly Complex because the police locked the main entrance to the building.

The action compelled some legislators to scale the Assembly high walls to enter the premises only to discover that the chambers were also securely locked.

Following their inability to hold their sitting at the assembly complex, they relocated to the Government House Banquet Hall to conduct their business.

The motion for Ikyange’s suspension was moved by the Majority Leader, Mr Avine Agbom, who cited the news conference granted journalists by the impeached speaker, insisting that he was still Speaker amounted to unparliamentary conduct which deserved a suspension.

He explained that 21 out of 30 legislators, at their emergency meeting on July 24, passed a vote of no confidence on Ikyange and other Principal Officers and eventually impeached them.

He said the action taken against the principal officers was legal and in compliance with the House Standing Rules.

According to him, such a behaviour is against the parliamentary rules and because of that singular act and other sundry issues standing against him, he needs to be suspended.

He also accused the former Speaker of using official vehicles to block the main entrance of the Assembly Complex, thereby preventing them from entering the chambers.

Agbum regretted that in spite of the impeachment of the Speaker, the police were still supporting his actions.

He said the staff of the Assembly, who were civil servants, were also prevented from entering the complex.

The motion was seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Egli Ahubi, who said that “the motion for suspension is apt and timely too”.

Ruling on the matter, the Speaker, Mr Titus Uba, said that Ikyange had violated the House Rules as such the motion calling for his suspension was in order.

Uba, therefore, handed down a six months suspension on his predecessor.

NAN reports that the House had adjourned from July 10 to Aug. 15 by the impeached Speaker but a section of the lawmakers, numbering 21 had on July 24, reconvened to impeach him and other principal officers.

Ikyange has described his impeachment as an “act of illegality” and insisted he was still Speaker.   (The Sun)

Gunmen kill four policemen within a week in Rivers

Four officers of the Rivers State Police Command have been gunned down by yet to identified gunmen who also carted their guns and ammunitions away within one week.

The Spokesman of the Nnamdi Omoni confirmed the killing of four police officers .

Omoni explained three officers were killed by some unknown gunmen at Psychiatric road, Rumuigbo in Obio-Akpor Local government area, while another police officer was killed at Elele in Ikwerre Local government area on Monday.

Omoni told journalists that the police officer killed in Elele was in mufti and was shot by the armed men after identifying himself as a police officer inside a commercial bus.

On the Rumuigbo incident, Omoni said a police officer who was far from the scene was able to shoot back the armed men, killing one while others escaped through Echue Waterside and made away with Police arms and ammunition.

“The gunmen killed three of our men in Rumuigbo and took away their rifles. And one of the rifles they took has over four hundred rounds of ammunition. “This incident is peculiar because they shot the officers continuously after knowing that they were already dead.

The bodies of the slain Policemen were riddled with bullets. “But one of the officers was gallant enough to try to repel them but he couldn’t do much because he was alone. He was able to hit some of them. They were about six but he was able to injure at least four of them. One of the gunmen even died. “We have recovered his body and the vehicle they used at the river bank here in Port Harcourt,” he said.

The Rivers State Police Command has declared a manhunt for the gunmen, appealing to members of the public to report anyone seen with gunshot wounds to the Police.

We are not aware Dino Melaye was kidnapped – Police

The Nigeria Police have reacted to the “purported kidnap” of Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West senatorial district.

Melaye was reportedly kidnapped Thursday morning at Gwagwalada by unknown gunmen when he was heading to Lokoja to attend a court session.

But the Nigeria Police denied knowledge of the kidnap, saying the incident was not reported in any station across the country.

In a statement made available to newsmen Thursday night by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Jimoh Moshood, the police dared the family members of Melaye or his staff who claimed to have witnessed the alleged abduction, to report the matter to the Police.

“Nigeria Police Force have not received any complaint or report in any of its Police Stations or Divisions throughout the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) or any other State of the Federation of the kidnap of Senator Dino Melaye from any of his family member, friend, associate or staff to indicate that the Senator has been kidnapped”, Moshood has said.

He said the Police got “the report of the purported kidnap of Senator Dino Melaye in some sections of the media”.

Moshood said, “however, the Force has commenced investigation into the purported kidnap of Senator Dino Melaye, and wish to implore any of his family members, relatives or friends who witnessed the kidnap or have information about the purported kidnap of the Senator to report the incident at the nearest police Station to assist the Police in the investigation”.

Close associates of Melaye and his staff had circulated messages, alerting the public that some forces had arrived Abuja, using hilux van with Kogi State Government official plate number and a sienna bus, with the intention to cause harm to the outspoken Senator.