8 Killed In Clashes Between Herders And Farmers In Benue
By: Zagazola Makama
Clashes in Nigeria North East of Borno between farmers and semi-nomadic herders have killed atleast 8 people in Bayo Local Government Area of in the State.
Bayo LGA is a town with about 78,978 populations and a distance of 237 kilometers to the restive capital of Borno state.
It was gathered that Farmers/herders clashed in when a herder was allegedly attacked after an argument with some farmers over encroachment of animals into their farm land on November 30.
An Intelligent Sources told Zagazola Makama, a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad that Violence broke out when herders stormed Bayo community, killed 8 persons and razed many houses.
Several other people were injured in the attack and were taken to local hospitals.
The sources said that Security agencies were alerted and they deployed in the affected area which helped in stopping the attack, otherwise the casualties would have been higher.
"Some arrest have been made so far while other perpetrators were at large," said the security source.
Attacks by farmers and reprisal attacks by herders within the past few months had led to loss of life and property.
The lack of clearly demarcated cattle grazing routes and the consequent encroachment onto farmlands by cattle were the root of the problems.
On November 5, some herders stormed and destroyed some farmlands in Modu Mairamti, Lawan Mallamti, Gammusuno, Gandairam Kangarwa in Gubio LGA after chasing the farmers with Ak 47.
Within the same period, the herders raided another farm in Kaulilu and injured 4 farmers after destroying their farmlands.
The herders later attacked a team of the Civilian Joint Task Force who attempted to stop their heinous crimes and destroyed their vehicles before one of the suspect was apprehended.
However, the authorities’ failure to bring perpetrators to justice has been fuelling the bloody escalation more conflicts in Gubio, Bayo, Konduga and other part of the state.
Zagazola Understand that the Borno Commisioner Of Police, Abdu Umar, has summon a peace meeting between Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and the Farmers Associations, in order to resolved the perennial conflict.
