KEY POINTS
- Benue’s Tor Tiv is calling for violent herders to be removed by the leadership of MACBAN.
- Recalls that earlier, herding was peaceful, in contrast to the modern invaders.
- Allows herders to graze without danger, but disapproves of illegal damage to farms and violent acts.
Tor Tiv, the Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, has bluntly urged MACBAN’s top officials to drive violent herders from the state.
The call is made following reports from MACBAN’s National President, Baba Ngelzarma, through his representative Adamu Lawal, who pointed out that criminals in the Fulani community were behind the violence at a recent meeting in Makurdi.
You don’t have the right to say “I didn’t know”
Tor Tiv did not agree with the explanation, saying: “it was as if mechanics and mad men mixed; they all wore the same outfits.”
He said that if you explained the situation by saying a minor group of criminals had joined the herders and are spoiling it for you, the initial thing to do would be to drive out the crazy folks within your community.
Compared to what happened before
According to the monarch’s memories from his young days, the herder community at that time had no weapons, was nonviolent and respected the land on which farming took place.
What we see today is not the same as how our herders used to be. They possess weapons, behave aggressively and have captured entire places, forcing most residents to leave their homes. He claimed that herders currently destroy the locals’ crops, use assault rifles, kill people and rape women.
Nomadic culture is not what we see in this film. He made clear that killing and displacing other groups is not consistent with the true cultural values of nomads. A culture that kills its people, seizes what they have and wrecked their property should end immediately, no questions asked.
Creating peace is not impossible for MACBAN
The comment was firm, but the king still stated that soldiers would allow genuine herders safe and fertile places to let their herds graze.
If you have many people, we will tell you where to find fields that are good and full of green grass. However, if you invade our farms and kill and destroy what we produce, that sort of action will not be accepted in Benue State.
Expressing messages clearly to MACBAN
He addressed MACBAN members to clean up their organization. Take care of the problems within yourself. To say these are mad people and you do not know them is already to know them. The rebels wear what you do, say what you do and carry AK-47. We can easily spot lies. Begin by addressing those acting irrationally and show up cleansed, because we will accept you.
