By Mike Odeh James and Olikita Ekani
In recent months, Benue State has witnessed a surge in violent attacks by terrorists on Christian farming communities, resulting in numerous deaths, displacement, and destruction of livelihoods. The terrorists speak Fula, the language of the Fulani tribe, which claims 9 million members, one of the largest and most influential tribes in the nation.
In a devastating incident, Mr. Agber Targba, a dedicated Christian farmer, was ambushed and brutally killed by Fulani terrorists on his farm in Nagi, Gwer West County, Benue State, on August 5, 2024.
The Fulani terrorists, have laid siege to Nagi Village for close to six months, preventing farmers from cultivating their lands. On Aug. 5, a group of Fulani militia overpowered and killed Mr. Targba as he tried to escape from one of his plots, according to Ori Hope Emmanuel, Data Collection Officer, Foundation for Justice, Development, and Peace in Benue State.
“Fulani terrorists had laid siege on Nagi Village for over three to six months, preventing farmers from going to cultivate their lands. The terrorists also laid sieges on farms, preventing people from going to farms. As we speak, the villagers in Nagi, about five thousand, are on the brink of starvation as they can no longer go to farms to harvest their crops.”
Another farmer in Nagi, Theresa Terver, 28, a mother of three, corroborated Emmanuel’s assertion, stating,
“The Fulanis have completely surrounded our communities, and we can no longer go to the farm.” She further revealed that the siege has been ongoing since May 2024, saying, “Since May 2024, Nagi, Mbachohon, and Iorbogo have been under siege or surrounded by Fulani terrorists.”
Theresa Terver told TruthNigeria, “We can no longer go to farms or go to our weekly market.” She painted a dire picture of the situation, warning, “If we continue like this, Nagi and other communities in Gwer West will die of hunger.”
Terror Grips Nagi, Gwer West: Residents Starving as Farmers Held Hostage
In an exclusive interview with TruthNigeria, Henry Agba, County Boss of Gwer West, revealed the horrific truth about the ceaseless attacks by Fulani terrorists on innocent residents of Nagi Village and surrounding communities in Gwer West County.
He noted that Nagi and other communities in Gwer West are being squeezed to death by the activities of the Fulani terrorists.
“The situation is dire,” Mr. Agba lamented, his voice heavy with sorrow. “Nagi Village and other surrounding communities are teetering on the edge of starvation, as Fulani terrorists have mercilessly blocked farmers from accessing their farms, leaving our people without food or hope.”
He paused, collecting his thoughts before continuing, “Targba’s tragic fate is just one among the many Christians being killed on a weekly, sometimes daily, basis.”
A Pattern of Ethnic Replacement
The killing of Targbo illustrates a grim pattern of ethnic replacement, according to subject experts interviewed by TruthNigeria. As the Nonprofit World without Genocide (WWG) has reported, climate change in the Sahel compels migration of herding peoples, who are nearly 100 percent Muslim, who compete with sedentary plot farmers in the verdant Middle Belt of Nigeria for pasture, leading to clashes and so-called communal clashes. “Herders began coming into conflict with farming communities over grazing pastures and water sources. Islamist extremism in the region also heightened anti-Christian sentiments among Fulani Muslims, overlaying resource competition with identity issues,” according to WWG.
The proven tactic of the Islamist terrorist bands attacking sedentary farmers is to starve village populations and demand for them to leave, then isolate the farmers who refuse to abandon their plots and to kill them one by one on their lands.
Despite the devastating circumstances, Mr. Agba offered a glimmer of hope, albeit tinged with gloom.
“Although the state government, led by Rev. Father Hyacinth Alia, [a former Catholic priest], has made efforts to restore peace, the federal government’s indecisiveness has further exacerbated the crisis. However, with the recent deployment of military personnel to the area, the carnage has somewhat subsided, offering a faint glimmer of respite.”
But Agba emphasized that the only solution to bringing lasting peace and security to the county and the entire state is the strict implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranch Establishment Law.
Jihad Against Christians; Benue Leaders Speak Out
Some government officials of Benue State and lawmakers representing Benue State have spoken out, echoing the sentiment that the attacks amount to a Jihad, that is, a war against nonbelievers.
In an interview with TruthNigeria Correspondent, Hon. Victor Torsar Ormin, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Benue State on Agriculture and a native of Gwer-West, poured out his anguish over the relentless attacks, kidnapping, and killing of his people by Fulani terrorists.
“The atrocities being committed against my people by Fulani terrorists are unprovoked and are calculated attempts to drive them away in order to take over their ancestral homes and farm lands in the name of Islamic expansionism,” Ormin said.
He added an appeal to the Federal Government in general: “Please expedite all necessary actions to end the lingering insecurity in our land.”
In a separate interview with TruthNigeria Correspondent, Hon. Ojotu Ojema, Federal Lawmaker representing Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency, neighboring Gwer-West County, also ravaged by daily attacks and killings by Fulani terrorists, described the onslaughts as a Jihad against Benue people.
“If you look at the patterns of their attacks, you will see that our state and other states being attacked frequently in Nigeria are predominantly Christian states,” Ojema said.
“There is imminent hunger ahead, and it has already started, as most of our people are displaced and cannot return home to carry out farming activities for fear of being killed by the terrorists.”
Plea to the International Community
Ori Hope Emmanuel, the record keeper for Justice, Development, and Peace, urges the global community to compel the Nigerian government to take the following crucial steps:
1. Implement robust security measures to prevent additional attacks and protect the vulnerable population.
2. Provide immediate humanitarian assistance to support the affected Christian families, who are struggling to survive amidst the chaos.
3. Offer comprehensive community support, including psychological and emotional counseling, to help the bereaved Christian family and community cope with their traumatic losses.
Mike Odeh James and Olikita Ekani are Conflict Reporters for TruthNigeria
