A Governorship candidate on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) John Tseayo, wants the Government of Benue State to summon an all inclusive meeting of Benue sons and daughters, devoid of party lines to come up with proactive ways of addressing herdsmen attacks in the state.
Between 2011 up to date, the people of Benue State have known no peace due to occupation of their homes, killings, rape, destruction of farms, property and other dehumanising acts by armed gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.
Recently, there have been renewed killings in Kwande and Guma Local Government Areas of the state by armed herdsmen.
Tseayo, in statement he signed and made available to newsmen, said it is sad that in the 21st century Nigeria, human life has become so cheap, that for the sake of livestock, the people are daily confronted with news of loss of human lives in the name of grazing cattle.
He described as condemnable, the “unprovoked attack on Ikyor Ajuku, Waya, in Turan, kwande LGA of Benue State by suspected herdsmen, which left no fewer than six persons dead, who painfully struggle day and night to make ends meet, with little or no assistance from government.”
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According to Tseayo, it is unwise on the part of herdsmen to disobey the Open Grazing Prohibition and Establishment of Ranches (Laws of Benue State) 2017, with reckless abandon.
He warned that in a multicultural state and country like Nigeria, influenced by religion amd ethnicity, herdsmen must realise that they are doing the President who is one of them no good by allowing the bad elements amongst them to continue in this regard as it is gradually and completely erasing whatever good the President has done or will do.
He stated that there can be no other time than now, for the Government of Benue State to summon an all inclusive meeting of Benue sons and daughters, devoid of party lines to devise proactive ways to addressing the imminent security threat.
Tseayo also said now is the time for the Tiv Area Traditional Council (TATC) to invoke the Swem, “a Tiv god that punishes offenders”, to deal decisively with any conspirators of Tiv origin adding that the Idoma Area Traditional Council (IATC) should do same.
He concluded that nations are waking up to the realities that is staring them in the face and the case of Benue State cannot be an exception, in the search for a solution to this “unending” security challenge, that the people are confronted with.
