“Al-Makura and Nasarawa killings”
In his Sunday column; “BAROMETER” of THE NATION Newspaper published on 22nd April, 2018, Adekunle Ade-Adeleye analysed the reaction of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura to the recent killings of 32 persons in Keana, Obi and Awe Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State. The central treatise of Mr. Ade-Adeleye’s piece was that Governor Al-makura was “philosophically […]
In his Sunday column; “BAROMETER” of THE NATION Newspaper published on 22nd April, 2018, Adekunle Ade-Adeleye analysed the reaction of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura to the recent killings of 32 persons in Keana, Obi and Awe Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State. The central treatise of Mr. Ade-Adeleye’s piece was that Governor Al-makura was “philosophically aloof” back in January when killer herdsmen perpetrated “the New Year’s Day Killings in Benue State” but now that the killings have caught up with Nasarawa State: “Mr. Al-makura is now very flustered with the killings spilling over to his (own) state with deadening regularity!”
Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura has had his baptism of fire long before now because on May 29, 2011, when he was sworn in as governor of Nasarawa State, his first official assignment was to preside over a security council meeting which dwelt on how to resolve herdsmen and farmers clashes at the border of Nasarawa with Benue State and at that meeting he stated that: “Peace and harmonious coexistence between Nasarawa and Benue states remain fundamental necessities in our quest for enduring development and progress!”
Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura has kept true to his conviction of “neighbourliness anchored on peace” in the last 7 years of his stewardship during which he faced and surmounted monumental security challenges, including the nightmare of 2013 when over 77 security personnel were killed in Alakyo at the height of the onslaught of the Ombatse ethnic militia in Nasarawa State. But at no point during the time of its travails did Nasarawa State ever point accusing fingers at our neighbouring states as being the source of our troubles.
It is correct for Adekunle Ade-Adeleye to remind the world that Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State at that time had accused neighbouring Nasarawa State of harbouring killer herdsmen who “allegedly” strike from Tunga in Awe Local Government Area and recoil there to avoid being apprehended by the security forces. And in the words of Ade-Adeleye; “Mr Ortom was to later apologize for his harsh comments which he attributed to the grief that overcame Benue people as a result of the January massacres!” But the point to be made here is that there was nothing offhand or rueful in the way Governor Al-makura accepted with warmth and empathy the apology of his counterpart in Benue State.
So when Mr. Al-makura appears calm in the face of the storm or shows restraint at the onslaught of attack, it is not because he is being “cold”, “insensitive” or is exhibiting what Ade-Adeleye calls a combination of “unearthly calm” and “philosophical aloofness!”, it is simply because the governor and good people of Nasarawa State have long been tempered by years of relentless and bitter scourge of unabating violence. That was why Governor Al-makura urged for restraint in official utterances or pronouncements of government at that time and the Editorial of THE NATION NEWSPAPER of Friday, January 12, 2018 titled: “Not time for bickering!” accurately captured the sentiment of Governor Umaru Tanko A-makura.
A reference to valid records shows that in 2012 Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura along with former Governor Gabriel Suswam led an effort to put in place a subsisting security arrangement which Nasarawa state initiated with Benue where both states agreed that there should be greater synergy between the security agencies in Benue and Nasarawa States and that a Joint Security Task Force was to be constituted by the two states or if that proved impossible, individual Border Patrol Teams were to be established by each state (but with a strong border liaison arrangement). The entire goal of the security template of 2012 which has been revisited by both states over the last 7 years is to ensure effective intelligence sharing for proactive actions, detection of foreign incursion, the mopping up of illegal arms from both the criminal elements who are herders and farmers in both states and the continual conduct of air surveillance by security chiefs from both states around the Benue valley and inter-state boundaries prone to upsurge of violence.
Adekunle made reference to reports that: “The Nasarawa State governor was quoted as saying that the Anti-Open Grazing Law passed by Benue State was unnecessary notwithstanding the horrendous attacks orchestrated by the herdsmen who were thought to be mostly Fulani!” For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura believes that Benue State as a federating unit has the right to enact laws which serve the interest of Benue people and Nasarawa State has no interest whatsoever or intension to meddle in the internal affairs of Benue State, but as a proactive neigbour Nasarawa State observed that consequent upon the introduction and implementation of the Anti-Open-Grazing Law, 2017 in Benue State on 1st of November 2017, there was panic migration of herdsmen in large numbers along with their cattle and families into Nasarawa State.
This mass exodus prompted Nasarawa State to send a letter to the Federal Government on 13th November, 2017 captioned “Update on Security Situation due to implementation of Anti-Open-Grazing Law in Neighbouring Benue State and the Expected Implementation of Anti-Open-Grazing Law of Taraba State by January, 2018: Request for the Federal Government Intervention” wherein, the Nasarawa State Government invited the attention of the Federal Government on the absolute need to put in place measures to address the security challenges urgently in order to avert the likelihood of breakdown of the seemingly peaceful and harmonious co-existence, as well as security, law and order in the Benue Valley and, indeed, along our border with Taraba State.
The point therefore is that although Nasarawa State had nothing to do with the implementation of Anti-Open Grazing Law, but as a responsible government, Al-makura had to be proactive and act in good faith to pre-empt and forestall the likely consequence or fallout of the mass migration. That was why Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura sent a letter as early as 13th November 2017 to the Federal Government!
Is this not a deliberate attempt to dig up fragile issues which may heighten public suspicion and escalate tension between Nasarawa and Benue State? Isn’t this a clear pointer to the fact that Mr. Adekunle Ade-Adeleye who writes and edits BAROMETER column does not share the hopes and aspirations of ordinary people in both Benue and Nasarawa states who simply wish to live in peace with each other? The security challenge being faced by states in the North Central is a grave issue which requires sense of restraint.
Yakubu Lamai is the Senior Special Assistant, Public Affairs and Media Strategy to Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura of Nasarawa State.