This annum has been besmirched by an unprecedented plethora of bloodshed and devastation. Countless innocents have been slaughtered and interred, leaving behind a trail of unmitigated grief and despair. Our eyes, once bright and radiant, now brim with tears that evaporate into the ether as we wail and lament unabatedly, our cries echoing into the void without succour or respite.
In this precarious and parlous situation, we find ourselves ensnared in a labyrinthine quagmire, with no apparent egress or solution in sight. The venerable Reggae maestro Peter Tosh, in his prophetic wisdom, posed the poignant question, “Down presser man, where are you gonna run to? You run to the sea, the sea will be boiling. You run to the rock, the rock will be melting…” This haunting refrain graphically encapsulates our existential plight.
We are confronted with an existential dilemma, wherein we cannot till the land for fear of being slain, nor can we seek refuge in our habitations, as even our bedrooms have become vulnerable to the depredations of marauding bands of brigands. Since the inception of this annum, numerous communities in Benue State have been subjected to an unremitting orgy of violence, allegedly perpetrated by pastoralists and bands of malefactors.
The ubiquity of this scourge is evident in the ferocious attacks visited upon the people of Agatu, Apa, Otukpo, Gwer-West, Gwer-East, Logo, Okpokwu, Ukum, Katsina ala, Kwande, Guma, and Makurdi, amongst other local government areas of the state. These atrocities have left in their wake an indelible trail of devastation, as several lives and property worth billions of naira have been annihilated.
The most egregious aspect of these depredations is the callous disregard for human life and the wanton destruction of property. An online video, whose provenance remains unverified, graphically depicts the marauders’ beastly comportment, as they lay waste to cassava farms, utilizing the crops to feed their cattle with brazen impunity.
One is perplexed by the ritualistic condemnations and lamentations emanating from government quarters, which inevitably follow each incident, rather than a concerted effort to invoke the anti-open grazing laws in the state. It appears that the law has been relegated to desuetude, as no reference is made to its existence. This constitutes a betrayal of the people’s trust, as the primary mandate of every government, apart from providing for the welfare of its citizens, is the safeguarding of life and property.
These attacks have spawned a plethora of narratives and incidents. Firstly, they belied the government’s assertion that the devastating clashes between farmers and pastoralists in the state had become a relic of the past. Secondly, the National Assembly caucus from Benue State has attributed blame to the state government, ostensibly due to the latter’s denial of the existence of these clashes. Thirdly, the youth have vented their ire upon their leaders, whom they perceive as ineffectual in protecting them.
This desperation has been fueled by the fear of uncertainty, as the youth, who have witnessed the slaughter of their loved ones, are now consumed by the trepidation that their own lives may be forfeit at any moment. In this atmosphere of existential dread, the destruction of property, albeit reprehensible, may be perceived as a desperate cry for attention and a plea for solutions to the endemic violence that has become the norm.
In conclusion, I implore the government to convene an emergency conclave of critical stakeholders, to devise a lasting solution to this sanguinary carnage. This is not a moment for recriminations or politicking; rather, it is a time for collective action to salvage the state from the abyss of chaos and destruction. Let us prioritize the welfare and security of Benue State and its citizens.
My sincerest condolences go to those who have lost loved ones and property in this senseless violence. May the Almighty comfort them and extricate us from this maelstrom.
Elijah, the (Adalekwu), the living ancestor writes from O’EJE Fortress, Otada-Otukpo.
