Nigeria: Farmers/Herdsmen Situations - 3,000 Lives Missing, Still Number Result in Sight

FOURTEEN decades after the nasty kill of Zaki Iyordye Akaahena, a famous paramount leader in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State along side his two sons who were theoretically beheaded by rampaging Fulani herdsmen in 1989, around 3,000 lives have been lost to the unending sour fight.

Actually, the partnership between many Benue farmers and herdsmen has been shrouded in suspicion and deep rooted abhorrence for every single other. Probably, this might take into account the consistent bloodbaths between the 2 in several communities and villages about Agatu, Guma, Gwer West, Makurdi and Gwer local government areas of the state.

There's number gainsaying that the situation has, like before, centered on dispute around grazing avenues and allegations and counter-accusations by the feuding parties that the other had trespassed beyond bounds. That only implies that since the Tiv man places so much premium on his facilities, likewise the herdsman who can kill his fellow man for tampering with his cattle, any effort by the pair to cohabit might generally lead to bloodbath.

That certainly can be responsible for the consistent issues between Tiv farmers and Fulani herdsmen across the Benue pit wherever lots of farming actions take position, but wherever herdsmen have also found ideal for grazing.

Actually, within the last few 14 decades hardly might any month go by without described cases of situations involving the farmers and herdsmen, ultimately causing deaths and destruction of property.

Actually, between last Friday and Saturday, close to 60 persons were killed, while scores were hurt and others still lacking in one of many bloodiest situation between Tiv farmers of Guma and Fulani herdsmen.

The most recent situation has established a massive refugee condition in Guma with well over 7,000 displaced persons, mostly girls and kids, now camped in Gbajimba, the local government headquarters; the fight still raging in the distant villages.

Speaking on the new situation, chairman of Guma local government council, Mr. Joe Us Adii, lamented ergo: "Lives are being lost on a typical foundation in the hinterlands whilst the recurring situation can be taking their cost on the finances of the council. Like I told you, the problem is poor because we already have a significant refugee condition inside our fingers right now considering that around 7,000 persons have been displaced by this situation; we've been able to camp them at Gbajimba.

"Bulk of these displaced persons are girls, kids and seniors; but luckily, as I talk to you, soldiers have moved directly into Gbajimba, the local government headquarters, and happen to be mobilizing to move to the situation parts in order to always check more eliminating ".

Also speaking, former Benue State Mind of Service, Mike Iyordye, who lost his father to the situation 14 years ago and whose house was burned down in last week's situation, pleaded with the authorities to take steps to test the situation " before it snowballs into anything else."

Unfortunately, despite the recurring dislike that remains to greet these unending situations and the resultant massacres, there seems to be number end in sight to the wanton killings and destruction of house between these feuding parties.

Probably government can offer a considered to the panacea set forward by the Paramount Ruler of Nagi Empire, HRH, Daniel Abomste who recently implored the Federal Government to urgently produce grazing avenues around the world for herdsmen in order to base the consistent situations taking place about Benue State.