Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom had called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare armed Fulani herdsmen killing innocent people in communities in Benue State as terrorists.
The Governor’s call follows repeated herdsmen attacks on different communities of the state in the last couple of months.
A press statement signed by the Governor’s Press Secretary, Mr. Terver Akase, stated that the latest of such attacks took place Friday night at Tse-Chembe community near Anyiin in Logo Local Government Area where the herders murdered seven persons in cold blood and left many others badly injured.
Governor Ortom who condemned the invasion and killings described the situation as unacceptable.
He said Benue State has a law which prohibits open grazing of livestock saying that only a terrorist group would deliberately choose to violate the legislation as Fulani herdsmen have done since the law was enacted in 2017.
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Governor Ortom stated that declaring the armed herders operating in Benue State as terrorists would end the wave of impunity and guarantee the rule of law.
He called on people of the state, particularly those living in the affected areas to report any suspicious persons to security agencies.
The Governor commended officers and men of ‘Operation Whirl Stroke’ for their prompt responses to distress calls, particularly that of yesterday when the people of Tse-Chembe came under herdsmen’s attacks.
He reassured Benue people that his administration will not surrender the state to criminal elements, be they herdsmen or any other group.
Governor Ortom further reiterated that no amount of threats and attacks will stop the enforcement of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the State.
