Benue State government has warned Garus Gololo, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to desist from inflammatory statements that are capable of stiring hatred among the people.
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Samuel Ortom, Terver Akase stated this in a press statement he signed on behalf of government and made available to newsmen.
Akase was reacting to Gololo’s recent claim that more than 2,000 cows belonging to herders were impounded by Livestock Guards and that many of the cows are secretly being killed in the quarantine unit.
The Chief Press Secretary said the statement is simply a tactic to divert attention from the heinous crime committed by the herdsmen militia.
“His claim that over 2,000 cows have been impounded by Livestock Guards and some are being killed in the quarantine unit is another ploy to stir hatred.
“Garus Gololo is a rabble-rouser who is seeking cheap publicity. Each time herdsmen attack a Benue community, Gololo would raise a false alarm that Fulani cows were rustled before the attack occurred.”
He noted that armed herdsmen attacked Tarhembe village of Mbawa in Guma local government area killing three persons and leaving many others injured.
“Perhaps Gololo was privy to the attack, that’s why he spoke to the press a few hours to the killings.”
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The governor’s spokesman said Governor Samuel Ortom will never join issues with the man despite his constant verbal attacks on his person and office.
Akase recalled that Miyetti Cattle Breeders Association, MACBAN and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore already disowned Gololo, adding that he possibly can’t be speaking for those groups.
According to him, Gololo obviously represents himself.
“Sometimes he calls himself as an APC chieftain and at other times as spokesman for Fulani herders. The man is a crisis entrepreneur. He is one of those who do not want an end to the killing of innocent people in Benue and other parts of the country so he can continue to market his “wares”.
He called on Journalists to visit the quarantine unit to verify the statistics of animals there, saying that Gololo’s claimed that the Governor is chasing Fulanis out of Benue for whatever reason only he Garus can explain.
“The man is a merchant of lawlessness and bloodshed. His likes thrive in an atmosphere of violence.
“People such as Garus hate to see peace. Now that Governor Ortom’s efforts are yielding results and the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law is being obeyed by majority of people, he and those in his league are restless and have resorted to sponsoring attacks in some communities.
Akase advised Benue people to remain calm and not take the law into their hands as the State Government is committed to greater collaboration with security agencies to ensure that Benue communities are safer.
