Last Saturday, gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen invaded Barakin-Ladi Local Government Area and some parts of Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State and killed about 200 people. Since then, the natives, Berom, and Fulani herdsmen have been trading blames. In this interview by ISAAC SHOBAYO, the chairman of the publicity committee of the Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation (BECO), Honourable Sam Godongs, explains how the attacks were carried out, the motives behind them and other issues surrounding the invasion. Excerpts:
SO many people were killed in the last attacks on 12 villages in Barakin-Ladi Local Government Area, how did it happen?
We have the figure of those that were killed in the last attack and I want to tell you that the death toll rises by the day. As of the last count, we recorded the death of 215 people, including children, women and the aged. This unfortunate incident happened in Razat, Soi, Ruku, Gindin-Apati, Gana-Rop, Dorowa-Babuji, Heipang and other villages. This is the worst massacre the Berom nation has ever witnessed. More than 15,000 lives have been lost by the Berom nation since 2001. You don’t need to provoke the Fulani herdsmen before they attack; they have a motive. Apart from the incident of last Saturday and Sunday morning, killings had continued on our farms, local routes, marketplaces at night and in daytime. There is no day without an incident. That is why we want Nigerians and the international community to help us. We know what is happening in Taraba, Benue and Nasarawa states but in Plateau State, silent killings have been going on. You are asking why these killings? If you have weapons, you are so armed; you will always look for an opportunity to use them. If you have encouragement from the official circle, that is, people who encourage you by their comments, by their analysis, they give you impetus; they inspire you to go ahead. If you have enemies that are weak, you can go and kill them and go scot-free – no arrest, no persecution. That is what is happening.
One of the leaders of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association said prior to the attacks, over 300 cows were rustled by Berom people with some Fulani herdsmen killed. He said this led to last Saturday’s attacks. Is it true that some Fulani men were killed a few days to the attacks?
Satan doesn’t need to be provoked before he strikes. There is no need for any justification. I have never heard of anywhere in this country where the Fulani are such victims, but the question that needs to be answered is: do you equate animals with human beings? There is no justification for this. They are waging this war because they want space and territory and they have all that is required to prosecute it. If you said it was a reprisal, what reprisal and for what? In Fan district where they alleged that some cattle were rustled, for five days or more, a team of security agents combed every nook and cranny of Fan and no single cow was recovered. So, the logic of reprisal is faulty. I don’t know how people look at it but is it logical to say that all Berom people are rustlers. Is that the conclusion, all the people killed are rustlers? Churches were burnt. Is that where they took the decision to rustle cows? The big question is: reprisal for what?
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How many Berom villages were sacked and occupied by the herdsmen and what are you doing to recover the villages?
The ultimate interest of the Fulani herdsmen is territory, space. Rustling is a criminal act that affects not just the Fulani. In Berom land which I represent, there are criminal elements. If you don’t know anything about cattle, you cannot rustle cattle; you have to have the experience with these animals. The Fulani are involved. They are at the forefront of cattle rustling. They have their collaborators. It is a criminal gang. The issue of reprisal is out of the question. I can tell you that they have their motives. These attacks have gone on for years. You kill innocent people indiscriminately, including children and say it is reprisal. Reprisal for what? Does it make sense? Are we in a lawless society? If you lost your cattle, do you just go on a killing spree to avenge the loss? Is it logical? Are we in an animal kingdom? Another question is: why is it that all the while, there is no single arrest? The attackers are not ghosts; you can see them.
In one of the incidents, my younger brother and others took security personnel along with them for a burial but they were attacked on the way and the security personnel vanished. Some people were killed, while others returned with gunshot wounds. We know the ultimate interest of these killer herdsmen and let me say clearly that we know that the havoc is beyond the capacity of the ordinary Fulani herdsmen; they have collaborators who are mercenaries. It is on the social media that they have a special force that nobody can arrest. People have claimed responsibility for these attacks several times and, yet, they are walking freely in the streets. What is your interpretation and what is my interpretation? It is clear that some people are aiding and abetting this thing that is going on in Berom land and beyond. The Irigwe and others are facing it. Southern Kaduna is facing it. In Taraba, they are facing it. Let us not be deceived, we have not yet seen the end of it. All our people should be ready to defend themselves. There are all sorts of allegations of people in military uniform. They are either part of it or they are providing cover. How do you defend that? People must not take their lives for granted. The situation demands that we be very vigilant and do everything in our power to preserve our God-given lives. We are not animals and we cannot be killed like flies.
What efforts are you making to ward off attacks on your communities?
We don’t have firepower, support or network. We are praying to God. If the Nigerian government has abdicated its responsibility of defending its citizens, we have no other choice than to keep praying to God. What can we do when they are already occupying our lands? We don’t have the capacity; we can’t force them out. That is why we are insisting that Nigerians must know what we are facing. We are facing extermination. We are facing alienation. Our lands have been annexed and that is where we are. What can you do when you are refugees? You are not in your home and you are being hunted like rats. We are appealing to people of good conscience; the international community. They should see this level of injustice. They should come to our rescue. The immediate concern for now is to stay alive. We need to be assisted to stay alive and we need somebody out there to take it up with authority. The main responsibility of the government is to safeguard lives and property but in our own case, the govetnment has failed us.
What is your assessment of the role of the security agencies in this situation?
I would have been satisfied if the attackers were arrested. I would have been satisfied if they had challenged the attackers and arrested them but that is not happening. So, why would I be satisfied? I know some of them are doing their best but there is lot of compromise.
But the Fulani herdsmen, through their association, said they were not responsible for last Saturday’s attacks, what is your opinion on this?
I don’t know how you view it, so the Beroms are killing themselves and killing their children? Is that it? It is already a matter of public knowledge that Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Plateau State, has justified the killings. They have claimed responsibility. My advice is that people within and outside, the international community, should help secure the lives of vulnerable people now camping in the open under horrible conditions. Can imagine people sleeping in the open; no bedding, no food and no form of assistance? That is the state so many people are in now.
What is the present situation of things in these affected villages?
We were faced with forced burials. Security agents insisted that for the injured to be carried to the hospital, they had to bury the dead and this was against our tradition. We wanted to give our people befitting burial, but they refused. We insisted that those who died unjustly should be given the last respect in a befitting way but this has been denied. You deny the living and the dead their rights. These villages are deserted. They are lying in ruins. There are no activities going on there anymore. Life is at a standstill.
What do you want the government to do?
The government knows what to do but they have refused to do it – secure lives and property, provide minimum level of welfare, rebuild these villages. Where are SEMA and NEMA? The government knows exactly what to do – arrest the attackers and prosecute them, provide succour for widows and orphans. You can imagine government playing the ostrich by saying ‘I blame all of you.’ Even this government house was built on cattle route, who are you pleasing? What do you want to achieve by this comment? Government has the responsibility to provide leadership.
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