The Blood and Tears of Sankera
The Blood and Tears of Sankera: A Local’s Perspective on Killings, Conflict, and Suffering.
If you live in Sankera i.e. Ukum, Katsina-Ala, or Logo, you know that death walks with us every day. The land that used to feed Benue with yams and rice now feeds graves. The stories we hear on the news are not just headlines; they are our brothers, sisters, and children.
The Killings: Who is killing, dying and Why?
A. Militia and Gang Violence (The “Sankera Wars”)
Rival cult gangs (“Chain Gang” vs. “Full Fire,” “Black Axe”) fight for control of kidnapping rackets, illegal arms, and political thuggery.
Young boys (15-25 years old) are recruited—some by force, some by poverty—to join these gangs.
Massacres happen often: In April 2024, over 50 people were killed in Ukum when gangs clashed over territory.
B. Herdsmen Raiding and Burning Villages
Fulani herdsmen attack villages, burning farms and killing anyone who resists.
No protection: Soldiers and police are too few, too slow, or are sometimes complicit.
Example: In February 2024, Tse-Adoor village (Logo LGA) was raided, 17 dead, including women and children.
C. Security Forces’ Crackdowns
The military (Operation Whirl Stroke – OPWS) raids villages, hunting for militia.
Innocent people die in crossfire or are wrongly arrested.
Example: In May 2024, soldiers stormed Katsina-Ala market, killing 5 civilians while chasing gunmen.
The Conflict: Why Does It Never End?
A. Political Sponsorship
Politicians sometimes arm these gangs for elections, then abandon them.
Gangs turn into warlords (like the late Gana), controlling villages like kings.
B. Poverty and Unemployment
No jobs, no schools — only crime pays.
A young man with a gun makes more in one kidnapping than his father makes in 10 years of farming.
C. Ethnic Tensions
Past ethnic grievances and old hatreds are exploited by criminals.
No trust in government to bring justice.
The Humanitarian Crisis: Living Like Animals
A. Displacement of the people
Thousands flee to Makurdi, Gboko, or even Taraba.
IDP (Internally Displaced People or Refugee) camps are overcrowded, with no food or medicine.
Not just refugees in our own country but refugees in our own communities.
B. Increase in Hunger
Farmers can’t go to their farms as herdsmen and gangs control the land.
A bag of rice that used to cost ₦30,000 is now ₦100,000.
C. No Healthcare for those who are sick
Hospitals are empty as doctors run away from attacks.
Sick children die from simple fevers because there’s no treatment.
D. Psychological Trauma
Farmers and victim experience severe psychological trauma.
Children grow up seeing beheaded bodies on the road.
What Do We Want?
We are tired of crying. We need:
Real security, not just soldiers who shoot innocent people.
Jobs for our youth, so they don’t join gangs.
Justice for the dead, no more “forgive and forget” for killers.
Politicians to stop using us, we are not voting machines.
