Background

Benue State has since the dawn of democracy in 1999 remained the weeping baby of the federation for diverse reasons.

On the political front, the state has had its fair share of issues, with different parties and political actors laying claim to the political hegemony of the state.

However, it cannot be said to be Uhuru yet for the state, because like many other states in the country, it can’t easily be said that good governance and democratic ethos have succeeded in the state and the people enjoying the dividends of democracy in abundance despite the huge investment in politics by the different political gladiators that have in the last 25 years of democracy treated the state like personal estates.

While the political gladiators continue to fight for the soul of the states, unfortunately, Benue State, which was once one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria for people to live and earn a living, is bleeding profusely as the state has been turned into a war zone of sort.

What is most pathetic is the fact that this is happening at a time when Nigeria is not at war, either internally or externally. The much touted ‘food basket’ of Nigeria, whose agricultural export is cherished across the hungry, has become a desert, its land and farmlands plundered and forsaken by the people.

More deaths appeared to be recorded in the state than births, thereby diminishing the population of the state, especially with its youthful population mostly affected while the aged and frail are the ones that are now left in most of the communities and never sure of what the day holds for them as they seek a living in an environment that is already despoiled and abandoned.

Being an agrarian state, with fertile land across its different berth zones, the present insecurity that has festered in the land is something that people say have been exacerbated by the advent of the ubiquitous popular herdsmen or unknown gunmen that have continued to decimate the state.

2001 invasion of Sankera

For many observers, the seed of insecurity and decimation of Benue State is traceable to the era of former President Olusegun Obasanjo who in 2001 authorised the military invasion and wiping out of a whole community in one of the local government areas of the state.

Since this ignoble act that caught the entire nation and world unawares and greeted by angst, the state appeared not to have had peace, it was touted that safety progressively took the back door following attacks on all fronts by different groups on the state, with the most prominent in recent times being that of the herdsmen and unknown gunmen.

Also in the mix are the pockets of intertribal and community conflicts that have also played out within the fragile borders of the state.

All of these the people say have made Benue State the most pillaged and endangered state in Nigeria aside of the states in the North East and part of North West ravaged by Boko Haram, bandits and kidnappers.

The agrarian dominated people of Sankera communities in Benue North East Senatorial district are still living with the scars of the 2001 military invasion when over 100 citizens of the state were brutally massacred in cold blood and property worth billions of naira damaged by the troops in a revenge mission.

The massacre was a surreptitious and sudden operation of the Nigerian Army to avenge the killing of 19 soldiers near some Tiv villages in that area.

The massacre took place in villages such as; Gbeji, Vaase, Anyiin, Iorja, Ugba, Tse-Adoor, Kyado and Zaki-Biam. The month of October will make it exactly 23 years when the genocide was visited on ZakiBiam, it the operation was believed to have held between October 20 and 24, 2001.

In fact, the operation that lasted for a number of days was condemned by the International Human Watch groups, which urged the then President Obasanjo, to set up an independent investigation panel into the operation and to bring to justice those found responsible.

Causes

Militia of the Tiv ethnic group were alleged to have been culpable for the abduction and murder of 19 soldiers who have been deployed to the area to restore law and order following clashes between the Tiv people of Benue and Jukun ethnic groups of neighbouring Taraba State.

The Zaki-Biam invasion witnessed widespread destruction of property, loss of lives and farm produce in the villages, after terrified residents had abandoned their homes.

Sources said over 200 people died as a result of the deadly attack and thousands of others displaced. It is on record that since the military invasion of Zaki-Biam people and groups from across the state and group have consistently called for whoever the actors and the sponsors of the unrest in Sankera, which comprise of Katsina-Ala, Logo and Ukum LGAs to consider the plight of the people in the area and sheath their swords.

The communities and people of the LGAs, they argued have suffered enough. Given that their land has been decimated and their lives completely distorted as they are never sure of what is coming their way from day to day as they live in fear.

They say time for ceasefire is long overdue as the people need to get their life back and return to their ancestral homes, which they have abandoned for years to begin life afresh.

The food insecurity and the increasing rise in food inflation is attributed partly to the present precarious situation of the LGAs, which are known to contribute massively in making Benue State the food basket that it is especially as they are known predominantly for the production of yam among other farm produce.

According to the people, in years gone back, they disclosed that no day passes without at least 10 trucks loaded with yams depart Sankera markets to different parts of the country.

But the question on the lips of most people is that, with the incessant attacks and killings ravaging parts of the Sankera axis, is the state still producing enough to feed the nation?

Sadly, today, Sankera is not only Benue’s enclave that is bedeviled with constant attacks and killings, as more than 13 of the 23 local government areas of the state are said to be presently under siege.

They are all badly affected by the poor state of insecurity including kidnapping, herdsmen attacks and armed robbery alongside other forms of criminal activities, a development that has greatly affected food production in the state.

Killings

The insecurity situation bedeviling Sankera has left in its trail sorrows, tears and blood, with many of the prominent sons and daughters of the area killed or deformed as several suffer different degree of loses.

Former Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) war lord, General Victor Malu, had his home in Sankera area reduced to rubles due to the army invaders.

Also, former Governor of the state, Senator Gabriel Suswam, lost his elder brother, Chief Dr. Terkura Suswam to the killings in Sankera by perceived local militants. Terwase Akwaza, Alia’s Gana, a dreaded militia group leader was in 2020 killed.

The warlord was dragged out of the state in a government convoy before he was killed. The then Governor of the state, Chief Samuel Ortom, had vehemently condemned the constant Sankera invasion.

Top government functionaries including the Commissioner for Information, Matthew Abo, serving and former local government chairmen were at various times kidnapped while others were killed by their abductors.

Call for end to killings

Worried by the growing insecurity in the troubled Sankera, both Senator Suswam, Ortom and Governor Hyacinth Alia have sued for an end to the killings there.

The trio laid bare their feelings in their respective funeral orations in honour of one time member of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Chief Abu King Shuluwa at the weekend.

Alia said banditry has done the people more harm than good as it has thwarted development in the affected communities, stressing that it must end for the return of enduring peace.

He reiterated the determination of his administration to strengthen the Open Grazing Law promulgated during Ortom’s administration to curtail attacks on communities by insurgents, which he emphasised has come to stay.

The governor, who also spoke at the funeral of Late Chief Fezanga Wombo, Ter Katsina-Ala 1 at the Akume Atongo Stadium, called on the people of state, particularly those from Sankera axis, to device appropriate ways of building peace and promoting unity in the area.

He expressed total displeasure at the level of insecurity in the communities as cases of willful killings and kidnapping have become a new normal.

Alia directed all notable sons and daughters of Sankera including serving and past members of the National Assembly to convene a meeting and suggest possible ways of ending insecurity in the area.

He also admonished traditional institution to practice the Tiv cherished cultural values that would help shape the behaviour of the youth and warned that any traditional ruler found compromising the security situation in his area would be sanctioned.

The governor further advised the people from Sankera geo-political axis against playing politics with issues of insecurity, saying insecurity in Sankera and other parts of Benue State is something of grave concern to his administration and it should not be used as a soft spot for political gains.

Monarch, 30 people killed in Ukum

Amidst appeal for return of peace by the governor and his two predecessors, attacks and killings in the area and other parts of the state have continued unabated, with armed herdsmen militia reported to have killed 30 people, wipe out family of seven and burn down homes of monarchs.

The 30 people were killed in Agena and Gbagir, both in Borikyo and Ityuluv council wards in Ukum Local Government Area of the state.

The attacks and killings have drastically affected the economic activities in Ukum LGA as a good number of traders, businessmen and farmers have either shutdown their businesses or fled the local government for safety.

Source from the area said the recent attacks has left traditional, religious and opinion leaders, well-meaning sons/daughters hopeless as many residents are fleeing the rural areas with their families, including children, women and the aged, mostly by foot.

While rural markets like Afia, Chito, Kyado, Ayati, Vaase, Gbeji, Jootar, Gbagir, and many others are no longer functional and booming as they used to in the areas at the moment.

The source called for massive deployment of troops to contain the situation, which he said has brought humanitarian challenge, calling for security outfits to be situated in Afia, Chito, Ayati, Jootar; Kyado, Adogo, Vaase, Gbagir, Gbeji and other locations.

“This is the only way to calm down the Militia State of Emergency Creation Agenda, in Ukum LGA particularly, and possibly, Sankera axis as a whole,’’ said the source.

Alia, also recently visited another killing field, which occurred at Ityulugh district at Gbagir in Ukum Local Government Area to assess the level of the crisis where scores of innocent people were killed.

Invasion of Ayati

On the heels of this present killing in Ukum LGA, armed herdsmen and bandits made an incursion into Ayati, a community in Ukum LGA, killing over 40 innocent people.

Among those brutally murdered were two policemen who were deployed for peace keeping. Hordes of other people, including women and children, fled the area, carrying their belongings on their heads to areas deemed safer.

A source from the area, Mr. Ahangba Ayati, said, “the attack was carried out by a combined force of armed herdsmen and local bandits, adding that he lost three of his siblings in the attack.’’

The attack was condemned by the governor, who expressed worry that such heinous act had continued despite strong security presence and the regular dialogue sessions his administration have been holding with stakeholders and traditional rulers seeking the return of peace in Sankera.

He, however, made a firm determination to continue to use lawful procedures to protect Benue people, particularly Ukum, which has been on the front line of attacks lately.

The governor called on security personnel to improve their surveillance and also ensure that vulnerable communities are not left unguarded while the government awaits the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry it has put in place to investigate these attacks and killings in the state.

Alia added that his administration will continue to explore both discreet and open measures with a view to ensuring that Sankera once again enjoys peace and the people live happily.

Killers of officers

The Benue State Police Command confirmed the killing of two of its officers in the attacks on Ayati, with a pledge to fish out the killers of the two officers.

The command said the deceased officers were among officers that responded to the distress call that led to the killing of the victims.

Public Relations Officer of Command, Sewuese Anene, said in a statement that the attack was an attempt by the bandits to resist ongoing operations.

The statement quoted the Commissioner of Police, Hassan Steve Yabanet, as commiserating with families of the deceased, assuring of his commitment to fight criminals in the area.

“The CP also commended officers for their response and encouraged them not to give up on the operation as more teams have been sent to the area for a wider coverage and better engagement of bandits.”

While the Chairman of Ukum, Iorzaa Victor Msuega expressed his readiness to pay any price including his seat for the safety of his people. Msuega stressed that the lives of innocent citizens are of utmost importance and surpassed any political position.

In a statement by his Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity, Gabriel Terzungwe, the council’s leader lamented the continuing violence in the area, noting the pains that is has caused the people and council.

“The ongoing violence and attacks is plaguing Ukum Local Government Area, I am prepared to make any sacrifice necessary to ensure the safety and security of my people,” he vowed.

He further noted, “The recurrence of violence in Ayati community underscores the urgent need for immediate action and lasting solutions to prevent further bloodshed and suffering.’’

He called on Alia to evolve more decisive action to bring an end to the senseless killings in Ukum. He highlighted the previous disturbing trend of violence in the region that sparked widespread protests and resulted in the destruction of government properties, including personal assets.

Tor Tiv calls for peace

The paramount ruler of the Tiv nation, the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Iorzua Ayatse, also had at several times, condemned the Sankera carnage and sued for peace. He had equally, appealed to political and community leaders in the area to embrace peace and amicably resolve their differences.

According to the Tor Tiv, “the wanton destruction of lives and property has rather reduced the development and prosperity of the area as well as created a negative impression of the hitherto boisterous economic backbone of Benue that earned the state the acclaimed title of the Food Basket of the Nation.’’

The Tor Tiv, who is also known as Begha u Tiv, lamented that despite all efforts made to restore peace to Sankera, criminality has persisted, however, assured the people of the determination of Tiv Area Traditional Council (TATC), working in partnership with the Benue State government, to employ all possible ways to stop further occurrence of mayhem in the area.

This is as he said, “As the father of Tiv Kingdom, I am pained that the lives and property of my subjects in Sankera are destroyed. I spend sleepless nights deliberating on possible means to end the crisis in Ukum and Katsina Ala.

My prayers are that God should bring peace in the area because there cannot be any development in the area amidst killings and destruction of property.

He further stated that the Tiv Area Traditional Council under his leadership has concluded plans to meet with political, community and youth leaders in Sankera to find the root causes of the persistent unrest in order to restore permanent peace to the area.

Residents

As these attacks and killings continued to fester, the people expressed sadness, saying it is painful and too soon to forget the incident in Zaki-Biam violent protest where government properties including the office of the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), high court, the state’s tax agency offices, police patrol vehicle, Benue Links Transport company’s vehicles and the Ukum Area Traditional Council secretariat among others were set ablaze.

They are calling for peace and a return to the old days when Sankera and other communities of the state where safe havens and life was on a roller coaster.

Some of them recall with nostalgia the good old days in Sankera area where people travel even at night and return safely.

They noted that the continuous attacks and killings of innocent people will in no way contribute to the development of the area as no society develops under an atmosphere of chaos.

‘‘Let our people continue to live in peace with one another, go to their offices, farms, markets, schools and return home in peace,’’ said one of the residents, adding that ‘‘the killings in Sankera should have taught us lessons now to learn to be our brothers’ keeper as it is by so doing that we can be able to accommodate even our visitors from other parts of the world who want to invest in the state. So help us God.