By Ashiekaa Mtomga
It took the lamentation of the Catholic Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Most Rev Wilfred Anagbe CMF for the world to reckon that the mass atrocities in the Benue valley have spiraled up to a heinous and harrowing proportions.
Bishop Anagbe on March 12 testified before the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, detailing human rights violation in Nigeria, saying his diocese had lost 15 parishes following Fulani terrorists’ sustained attacks.
According to him, militant Islamic Fulani herdsmen invade his domain, steal, vandalise, rape women, kill and boast about these wicked and vicious acts. Even as the Fulani openly express their responsibility for these acts of terror, hardly are they apprehended.
As if Bishop Anagbe foresaw it – it happened again on Friday June 13. The Fulani, in an overnight attack, murdered over 200 mostly women and children in their sleep in Yelewata, an agrarian settlement in Benue State, close to the border between Benue and Nasarawa States.
Surprisingly, the killings were done for hours, only metres away from soldiers and police camps on the Makurdi-Lafia highway.
Political leadership did not act. Even within Benue State, under which jurisdiction Yelewata is, the political leadership did nothing until Pope Leo XIV on Sunday, 15 June spoke on the development.
The Pope who described the incident as massacre with extreme cruelty lamented that majority of victims were displaced persons hosted by the local Catholic mission there.
Interestingly, Yelewata falls under Bishop Anagbe’s diocese, thereby amplifying what he had told the US congress exactly three months earlier.
If Bishop Anagbe had to fly from Nigeria to the US to tell the world that the people of northcentral Nigeria are face to face with genocide, one should imagine the level of inertia in the country.
Curiously, he suffered condemnation not only from the central government but his own local authorities surprisingly headed by a fellow cleric.
Of course, a courageous social media influencer, Mr Martins Otse popularly called Verydarkman did a lot to tell the world the Yelewata tragedy. Yelewata is around 30 minutes’ drive from the Benue State capital, Makurdi yet no senior government official was moved to go there.
Verydarkman’s graphical presentation on Sunday morning aroused Nigerians. Also, youths in Makurdi protested, chanting Stop Benue Killings. They blocked the highway connecting the south and the north of the country, stalling movement and disrupting social and economic activities in Makurdi completely.
It was at this point that government woke up to arrest the young people whose “sin” was their call for an end to violence against innocent citizens.
Surprisingly, the same Verydarkman who was in Yelewata, drove to Makurdi to meet the youths, calm nerves, and stop the protesters from turning violent by the action(s) of the insensitive government agents.
The outrage got to the ears of the president of Nigeria, Mr Bola Ahmed Tinubu and he then scheduled a visit to Makurdi.
He came on Wednesday, June 18, saw the injured in hospital and did a town hall. The meeting was televised live. He asked the heads of police and military agencies why no arrests were made several days after the attack.
About a week after the president’s challenge, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun announced the arrest of 26 persons suspected to be “masterminds” of the Yelewata massacre. He did not say whether any of the attackers was arrested – he used the word masterminds.
Many similar ugly incidents have happened in Benue and Plateau States without arrests. In between the two states is Nasarawa State which does not suffer from the Fulani terror. It is said to be the Launchpad for the Fulani terrorists.
The questions many ask now are: would any arrest have been made without the president’s interrogation? Would the president have acted without the Pope’s/ Verydarkman’s intervention?
Nigeria has turned itself into a kind of funny place where one can hear stories like suspects are arrested but released because they repented.
When situation arises for leaders to assert the authority of the country, no action is taken so slovenlines has taken over.
Apparently, had the Pope not raised the alarm, Verydarkman not publicised the incident, the president might not have gone to Makurdi to ask why arrests were not made.
Not a single journalist in Makurdi reported the event. Yelewata would simply have been one of the sad tales in Nigeria and all would have moved on as if nothing happened.
The Bishop of Makurdi Diocese has continued to suffer threats, insults and attacks for speaking up.
His call to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) owing to increased Islamists attacks against Christians attracted a backlash from Muslim leaders who described the Bishop’s testimony as “unsubstantiated”.
The Federal Government released a statement in the wake of the bishop’s testimony saying his position is not correct.
One thing those who are after the bishop fail to realise is that what goes around comes around. The evil you condone today may come around you tomorrow.
The entire country is inclined more toward sloth. People who come out to speak out for truth and justice should be encouraged, not condemned. Attacking them will suppress the voice of reason and all will be doomed.
Time is now for people of conscience and goodwill to sound off about the terrible happenings for political leaders are dead to the cries of the people they claim they hold mandate for. If you notice strange happenings around you, shout to the world – you know not from where your help might come.
Stop relying on political leaders. They will not come to your rescue because they are obsessed with consolidating power and winning the next elections.
Societies progress and develop by the good deeds of statesmen and leaders. Development is made when role models set standards and they are followed. But in Nigeria, it seems the ship is rudderless.
Let’s give flowers to Bishop Anagbe for initiating this struggle. Let’s thank Pope Leo for helping the bishop. Let’s appreciate Verydarkman for his courage and the wonderful work he did in Yelewata.
And of course, the Benue youths for their loud cries on behalf of the Yelewata people.
Conversely, let’s say shame to those who are living on public resources yet have chosen to spew lies with nonchalance to the plight of the masses.
Mtomga writes this piece from Agedan in Gboko town of Benue state.
Editor’s Note: The views expressed here are entirely those of the author and does not reflect the opinion of this newspaper
