- No Going Back On Anti-open Grazing Bill
By ‘Dotun Akintomide
Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, has taken a swipe at President Muhammadu Buhari for failing to take decisive actions to rein in the rampaging fulani herdsmen who have dastardly killed hundreds in about two years, rendering thousands homeless.
Governor Ortom who raised eye brow during an emergency stakeholders meeting at the Benue People’s House Makurdi to discuss the ongoing genocide on Benue citizens by suspected Fulani herdsmen frowned at the nonchalant attitudes of the federal government in tackling the crises since it started.
“I have reported the persistent threat by the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore to President Buhari to effect their arrest but he was less concerned, now this people have done exactly what they were out for.
“For now I have put on hold all political activities to ensure that the genocide being carried by the suspected Fulani herdsmen on Benue indigenes is put to an end.
“I was duly elected by my people to protect lives and properties, I cannot afford to watch my people slaughtered in their farms and homes like chicken and the fact that we have chosen to support the president by abiding by the law does not make us weaker people the herdsmen do not have the monopoly of carrying arms.
“The people of the state voted massively for the president because of his honesty and integrity except he is now telling us that as the patron of Miyetti Allah he has changed from what he has been known for, to join hands with his people to kill us or the association is above the law.”
In the same vein, the governor expressed shock over the statement from the media credited to the Inspector General of Police that the long crises in the state which had earlier been reported to the command is a communal clashes.
“Until I speak with the IG myself for him to repeat what I am hearing and reading in the media before I will believe what they are saying is true, if this is confirmed, then I will believe he is one among those killing us.”
The governor also disclosed that the State will soon commenced the process of burying the victims, adding that three-day mourning will be declared during the process even as he averred that the designated morgue at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) where the remains of the victims were being deposited is filled to capacity.
He appealed to all sons and daughters of the state, at home and in the diaspora irrespective of tribe, political and religion affiliations to come together to strategies on security of lives and properties in the state.
The governor also disclosed that eighteen herdsmen were already in remand at the prison for contravening the Anti-open Grazing Law, saying, the Law has come to stay, no going back.
