The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has appealed to the youth of the state to remain calm and allow peace to reign.
The governor made the appeal on Saturday against the backdrop of the protest staged by youth over the January 1 and 2 killings by suspected herdsmen.
Still enraged by the wanton waste of lives, the youth took to the streets to vent their anger.
But in a swift reaction, the governor called on security operatives to restore order.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Mr Tahav Agerzua, in Makurdi, the governor condemned the protest saying there was no need for it.
He said the state had lost too many lives and could not afford to lose more.
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The statement reads: “The governor appeals to residents to remain calm and report any breach of peace to security agencies for necessary action.
“The state has suffered too much losses in terms of human lives and property and cannot afford another round of crisis.
“The Police should arrest those who cause trouble whoever they are, investigate the causes of the protests, and prosecute those responsible for breach of the peace.”
73 victims of attacks by suspected herdsmen were buried on Thursday in Benue State.
The attack by the suspected herdsmen was believed to have been informed by the passage of the anti-grazing law in the state.
The governor had, however, stressed that the attack would not make the state reverse its decision because it was in the best interest of the people of the state.
