Benue State governor, Samuel
Ortom, has described the attacks on his kinsmen by suspected Fulani herdsmen as
a declaration of total war on people of the state.
The governor said since 2011 when
the attacks started, the state has lost illustrious sons and daughters as well
as approximately N95bn.
The governor made these remark on
Thursday in Makurdi at the mass burial of those recently killed by Fulani
herdsmen in Logo and Guma LGAs of the state.
Ortom, who wept profusely while
giving his speech called on both national and international communities to come
to the aide of the state.
He noted that the attacks were
aimed at making the state ungovernable.
His words, “For several years,
these attackers have turned our beautiful and endowed land into their killing
fields.
“These attacks have been
intensified with alarming devastation since 2011.
“The report of a survey conducted
by Bearua of LG and chieftaincy affairs in the state that in 2014, among 10 of
the 23 LGAs of the state lost hundreds of lives and incurred loses of over N95
billion.
“So far, 13 of the 23 LGAs have
been affected.
“The govt and people of the state
interpreted this clear handwriting on the wall as an open declaration of war on
Benue State.
“Our people would not have been
massacred. It would have been prevented because the state government delayed
the implementation of the law until 1st Nov 2017 to give a grace period for
those who needed permits to establish ranches.
“However, no Fulani herdsman or
woman applied for permit.
“Rather than make attempts to
comply with the law, their leaders continued to engage in more threats to
resist the implementation.
“They also went to challenge the
legitimacy of the law and the matter is still pending.
“The dead bore the
characteristics of Fulani militia brutality- slit throats, deep cuts from
machettes on he head, chest , back and neck with some of their private parts
removed. It was well planned and clinically executed with specific targets.
“We wish to draw the attention of
the national and international communities to the fact that Benue state has
come under a deliberate, well planned and well funded siege. What started in
Guma and Logo is a clear statement of the evil and devastating plan against the
state.
“Our invaders do not care which
political party we belong to, they don’t care where we worship. They do not
care about our age and gender. All they care is to annihilate us, to obliterate
us from Benue Valley so that their cattle can graze and drink freely from
rivers in the state.
“History beckons and we must rise
to the challenge which our forefathers confronted and surmounted.”
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Brave men don't cry. Rise up to the challenge. No international or national anything will come to your aid. If like, cry from now till kingdom come. Simple, take cue from Okwute Fayose. Did you hear him" I WON'T RUN TO ABUJA FOR HELP". Do same as he did and stop crying. Use your security vote and defend your people or what is that security vote meant for?
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