Stopping farmer-herder conflicts in Benue

The visit illustrated one of the enduring challenges that the state had faced in the last several years.  Indeed, as the delegation made its way to Abuja, reports of another bloody encounter emerged, in which the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr Hyacinth Dogara, said 25 people were killed by suspected herdsmen in some villages […]

The visit illustrated one of the enduring challenges that the state had faced in the last several years.  Indeed, as the delegation made its way to Abuja, reports of another bloody encounter emerged, in which the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr Hyacinth Dogara, said 25 people were killed by suspected herdsmen in some villages of Logo local Government Area of the state. Villagers claimed that the death toll was much higher, asserting that they buried 100 people, mostly in mass graves.
A government official from the area, Chief Joseph Amawah, said that the alleged herdsmen arrived in droves early in the morning and attacked refugee camps at Ukara, Gafa, Per and Gusa areas in an operation that he said lasted for more than six hours, killing their victims and destroying houses.
Last month, three people were killed when suspected herdsmen attacked Sengev district of Gwer Local Government Area of the state, while fourteen others were also killed along Gboko Road in Tarka Local Government two weeks later.
The recent clashes, and probably others before, are believed to be connected with the longstanding disagreement between the herdsmen and farmers over cattle routes and farmlands.
It is worrying that in spite of some efforts made by the governments of Benue and its neighbours, where the herdsmen are believed to come from, to broker a lasting peace among the warring parties  to end the  loss of lives and property, these inter communal conflicts persist .
At the nongovernmental level, several dialogue sessions initiated by interfaith panels have made little impact. It is not clear too what progress has been in the work of a joint committee of Tiv and Fulani youths, the communities often blamed for these conflicts, and including security personnel, which was set up by the former administration to restore lasting peace in affected areas.
However, the government needs to do more and, now with the new administration in place, Governor Ortom should not waste a moment in forging ahead to solve this problem. Where necessary, he should seek federal support to deal with the conflicts in a holistic way.
Both warring communities must toe the path of peace and understand that there is no alternative to communities living peaceful among and with one another.
As it is, these clashes whether in reprisal or otherwise will not solve any problem. They only lead to tension and cycles of violence that bring more misery to the people and underdevelopment of the state.
The Interfaith committee of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria and the Christian Association of Nigeria should not relent in its efforts at providing counsel and offering direct assistance where required. The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association needs also to get involved in such dialogue.
Community and traditional rulers of the areas should also wade in to exhort their communities on the virtues and imperatives of keeping the peace.
The security agencies should be equipped to be able to respond quickly, not as is often the case they intervene only after the crises have abated and much damage done.
Persons that the police said they had arrested in connection with the crises must be subject to due process and,  where they are found culpable, punished to act as deterrent. As far as culprits are not brought to book, such acts of impunity would be hard to curtail.
The government should urgently secure  refugee camps to avoid them being targeted for attacks before the internally displaced persons are able to go back to their communities , which may not be any time soon unless there is a lasting solution that people can have the confidence to return home to normal life.