Ortom Does Not Have Militia, Says Coordinator of Livestock Guards (Interview)
Q.Some people, alleged to be members of a militia
group, were arrested on the Benue/Taraba border in connection with the recent
killings in Benue. The military authority linked the group to the Benue State
government and further alleged that you are the one supplying arms to them…?
You see, in my life I have never involved myself in
any criminal offence. My background is clean. Go to the Department of State
Service (DSS), the Force Headquarters and DIA, they know my story. About the
issue of militia, I want to say in clear terms that I have never associated
myself with any organisation not recognised by the constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria and I am not a militia commander.
The story is this: In 2013 when Benue State
witnessed a serious crisis brought about by the Fulani herdsmen invasion during
which many people were killed and property worth billions of naira destroyed,
Benue and Nassarawa states were looking for a lasting solution to contain the situation.
Then, the governors of the two states called a meeting at the Government House
in Makurdi to strategize on ways of ending the crisis. It was at that meeting
that the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) was formed and the chairman of the
Miyetti Allah with its national chairman, Dirowa and the Deputy Inspector
General of Police then, Mike Zuokumor, were also present.
During the meeting, the Miyetti-Allah and the
government of the two states brought their youths, including Agatu youths,
where I was appointed to coordinate the activities of the CJTF organisation.
When I took over the challenge, there was relative peace between the two states
and after one year, I and my second in command, Alhaji Manga Useni, explained
to the national chairman of Miyetti Allah about the situation. We were being
paid N10, 000 each as stipends. That was during former Governor Gabriel
Suswam›s administration.
So when Governor Samuel Ortom came in, Suswam
handed the organisation to him to help tackle the security challenge
confronting the state and that is how we came to work under Governor Ortom. So,
some Fulani people were not happy when the anti-open grazing law which people
of the state asked Ortom to put in place to check the incessant clashes between
herdsmen and farmers as well as killing and destruction of farmlands by Fulani
herdsmen was passed by the state House of Assembly.
I want you to know that Benue people voted
overwhelmingly for President Muhammadu Buhari, knowing very well that he was a
Fulani man. Even though the former Senate President, David Mark and Suswam were
in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yet the people voted against the party
to demonstrate their love for the party in power today, the All Progressives
Congress (APC). So if people are saying that the anti-open grazing law was
promulgated to chase Fulani herdsmen away from Benue State, it is not true at all.
On the arrest of some members of a militia group on
Benue/Taraba border, I know that before now, most of the security agencies have
hands in it and I am challenging them that they are not intelligent officers.
One of them, Colonel Gambari from Taraba State, has alleged that the governor
gave me arms to give to civilian youths. He also alleged that some people were
trained, but the question I want to ask him is, who trained whom?
Q. Are you saying that those arrested by the military
in Taraba are not members of your organisation?
They are not my members and I don’t even know them.
Who took them there? It was a planned thing aimed at denting my reputation. I
want to tell you that, as the commander of the CJTF, which was later changed to
Livestock Guards, I and my men have not been trained to carry weapons. I have
been moving with police and since those boys were arrested, I have never
received any call from the military or any security agency, not even from the
Federal Government, to find out my involvement or whether I carry arms. If that
officer who raised that false alarm about arming militia in the state is an
intelligence officer, he would have carried out silent investigations into the
matter to know where the arms came from.
Q. What about your alleged links with the Boko Haram
group?
Let me tell you, when the anti-open grazing law was
signed by Governor Ortom, the national chairman of the Miyetti-Allah Kuatal
Hore who was the campaign director to former President Goodluck Jonathan was
not happy. He knew well that Benue State voted massively for Buhari to support
them in whatever circumstances they found themselves. He was the one kicking
against the law and directing Fulani militia to cause crisis in order to
fulfill his hidden agenda against the people of the state. That was why he was
calling me a Boko Haram member, but which I am not. Go and find out my story
from the DSS. They will tell you who I am and what I do.
Q. What is the number of the members of the Livestock
Guards and how many were killed during the herdsmen attack which left 73 people
dead?
We have 2, 500 members. Eight of them were killed
and if the security operatives are saying that Governor Ortom has trained 6,
000 militia, it is all lies; it is not true. Do you know what 6, 000 armed
people would look like? It is not a small number:
It is like
at least, 10 battalions. If it were true, would I then fold my hands with 10
battalions and allow my members to be killed like that and there will be no
reaction? How can that be possible? No it›s not true. We believe in the
anti-open grazing law and it will be sustained.
Q. You earlier said that the CJTF was created both in
Nasarawa and Benue states. Now with your group transforming to Livestock Guards
in Benue, does the CJTF still exist in Nassarawa State?
When the one in Benue was changed to Lifestock
Guards as a result of the anti-open grazing law, the group was not disbanded
because most of their cattle were here (Benue). So, we are using them as
indigenous Fulanis. That is why the vehicles the Benue State government gave to
the organisation to facilitate their operations, some were given to the Fulanis
in Nassarawa too because it was a joint operation. We looked at this law as
that which will bring lasting peace and it does not seek to drive anybody away
from the state. I also have cattle and I have a ranch for them.
Q.What is your view on the issue of cattle colonies
proposed by the Federal Government?
I don’t understand what they mean by cattle
colonies, but I don’t think the people will accept the idea. May be the
government is trying to enslave the people. More than 60 years ago, we were
decolonised from the British government and bringing it now, is a strange
thing. It sounds strange and, until they explain to us what it means, we are
still confused.
Q.Are members of the Livestock Guards permitted to
carry firearms?
You know the issue of firearms is a very dangerous
thing. We are not allowed to carry firearms and that is why you see me with
officers of the Nigerian Security Civil Defence Corps who are permitted to
carry firearms to protect me. And that is why my men were killed by Fulani
herdsmen and we were helpless and we cannot do anything to defend ourselves.
Q.With the killings still going on in Benue State, do
you see the Miyetti-Allah suppressing and overpowering your organisation?
I told you that members of the Miyetti Allah Kuatal
Hore are against this government, right from the beginning. So, like I said
earlier, they are after causing trouble in the state to ensure that the aim for
which the law was promulgated is defeated.
Q.With the killing of your men, how many of them have
come out to renounce their membership of the Livestock Guards?
None for now because this is our state and my
members are committed to doing even more. That is why I am also not afraid. No
matter what people say about me, I feel more strengthened and comfortable with
myself. I will be very glad and happy if I am killed protecting my people.
Q.What do you think the Federal Government should do
to end these violent clashes?
A law is in place, the state government has the
right to enact such laws to bring about peace in the state. So, the Federal
Government should embrace the law and allow it to take its course. Anybody that
has contrary opinion or view or wishes to challenge the law is free to go to court,
but certainly not through violence.
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