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Nigeria's Benue clashes: Mass burial after farmer-Fulani clashes | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A mass burial of more than 70 people is under way in Nigeria's central Benue State. | A mass burial of more than 70 people is under way in Nigeria's central Benue State. |
Dozens have been killed in conflicts between nomadic herdsmen and farming communities in three states - Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba - in recent weeks. | Dozens have been killed in conflicts between nomadic herdsmen and farming communities in three states - Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba - in recent weeks. |
The Nigerian army says it has deployed special forces to all three to "stem the menace". | The Nigerian army says it has deployed special forces to all three to "stem the menace". |
Muslim herders, mostly of the Fulani ethnic group, and Christian farmers often clash over land in the region. | Muslim herders, mostly of the Fulani ethnic group, and Christian farmers often clash over land in the region. |
Since the New Year, the number of clashes has intensified, with more than 100 deaths reported in Benue and Taraba states. | Since the New Year, the number of clashes has intensified, with more than 100 deaths reported in Benue and Taraba states. |
Fighting has been particularly heavy in Benue state, where 80 people have been killed and 80,000 displaced. | Fighting has been particularly heavy in Benue state, where 80 people have been killed and 80,000 displaced. |
"Thousands are attending today's funeral service to honour those killed," Benue's information commissioner Lawrence Onoja told the BBC. | "Thousands are attending today's funeral service to honour those killed," Benue's information commissioner Lawrence Onoja told the BBC. |
Mr Onoja, who was at the funeral, said 73 people were being buried. | Mr Onoja, who was at the funeral, said 73 people were being buried. |
He defended his state's controversial ban on open cattle grazing implemented in November, which Fulani herders have complained targets them unfairly. | He defended his state's controversial ban on open cattle grazing implemented in November, which Fulani herders have complained targets them unfairly. |
"Our economy in Benue State depends on agriculture," he said. "Take that away and we have a serious problem." | "Our economy in Benue State depends on agriculture," he said. "Take that away and we have a serious problem." |
Mr Onoja said that herdsman had a "misconception" the law was against them, saying they had not taken the time to look at it closely. | Mr Onoja said that herdsman had a "misconception" the law was against them, saying they had not taken the time to look at it closely. |
"[Until now] Fulani herders have been a law unto themselves. We want them to adopt ranching. These clashes result from the encroachment of cattle on farmers' land." | "[Until now] Fulani herders have been a law unto themselves. We want them to adopt ranching. These clashes result from the encroachment of cattle on farmers' land." |
The BBC's Haruna Shehu says Fulani herders' associations have told him they only mount retaliatory attacks when others steal their cattle or kill members of their community. | The BBC's Haruna Shehu says Fulani herders' associations have told him they only mount retaliatory attacks when others steal their cattle or kill members of their community. |
"They prepare attacks months in advance and enlist fellow herdsmen from as far as Guinea," he said. | "They prepare attacks months in advance and enlist fellow herdsmen from as far as Guinea," he said. |
While these tit-for-tat clashes often begin over land, the crisis seems to be taking on an ethnic and religious dimension. | While these tit-for-tat clashes often begin over land, the crisis seems to be taking on an ethnic and religious dimension. |
Earlier this week, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the head of police to relocate to Benue to manage the crisis. | Earlier this week, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the head of police to relocate to Benue to manage the crisis. |
The president's office later confirmed the deployment of special forces to Nigeria's central region in a tweet: | The president's office later confirmed the deployment of special forces to Nigeria's central region in a tweet: |
Analysts say the deployment to more states is likely to overstretch the Nigerian military, as it currently has thousands of troops fighting Boko Haram in the north-east. | Analysts say the deployment to more states is likely to overstretch the Nigerian military, as it currently has thousands of troops fighting Boko Haram in the north-east. |
Many other troops are operating in the oil-rich Niger Delta in the south, where militants are demanding a greater share of the oil wealth. | Many other troops are operating in the oil-rich Niger Delta in the south, where militants are demanding a greater share of the oil wealth. |