The Benue State government has
denied planning to hire a negotiator to mediate between the state government
and armed Fulani militia.
The governor was reacting to a
letter written by one Chief John Apochi, who claimed the governor was planning
to invite Mrs. Aisha Alkali Walkil, otherwise known as Mama Boko Haram peace
ambassador and chief negotiator, over herders/farmers clashes in the stat
Reacting, however, the governor
called on the general public to ignore the report as there was no iota of truth
in it.
Tahav Agerzua, Special Adviser,
Media and ICT to the governor in a statement said the claim was false and
mischievous.
He said, “The Governor has not
received such a letter the contents of which are obvious mischief and diversion
from a serious challenge confronting the people of the state. The claims made
in the so-called letter are as baseless as they are outlandish.
“There is no basis whatsoever for
Governor Samuel Ortom to hire any negotiator or mediator to tackle the current
security challenges in the state as he was already providing support to the
conventional Federal security agencies whose duty it is to protect lives and
property to end the crisis.
“The claim that the Governor
brought in Mrs Aisha Wakil, alias Mama Boko Haram, to Benue State for purposes
of mediation is also false and mischievous.
“Mrs. Wakil visited the state
recently in company of the national leadership of the Boys Scouts and Governor
Ortom’s interaction with her did not go beyond that public occasion. Besides,
the current security challenges in the state have been aggravated by sponsors
of Fulani armed herdsmen militia who have openly vowed to resist the validly
enacted Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017.
“These sponsors who include the
Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of
Nigeria and the Fulani Nationality Movement have openly stated that their
agenda is to annihilate the current occupants of the Benue Valley and take over
their land.
“The Governor and other leaders
of the state have called for the arrest and prosecution of the leaders of these
groups for the atrocities being committed in the state by the herdsmen militia.
Criminal prosecution has also been initiated to effect the arrests.
“The position of several groups
that Alhaji Aliyu Tershaku’s arrest and prosecution with members of the
Livestock Guards for murder of two Catholic priests and worshippers is an
attempt to change the true narrative and blame the victims instead of the
aggressors suffices.
“Otherwise Alhaji Tershaku’s has
been known to the security agencies who brought him to head the Civilian Joint
Task Force in Nasarawa and Benue State in 2013.
“When President Muhammadu Buhari
visited Benue State on March 12, 2018 he made a public presentation and stated
his links with the current Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and
National Security Adviser, Ali Mungonu.
“Attempts to demonize him are
therefore part of a grand strategy to change the true narrative of the Benue
crisis and also divert attention from the issues at stake just like the
obviously sponsored reports of Governor Ortom’s plans to hire a mediator.
“The protection of lives and
property of citizens rests squarely with the Federal Government which has
coercive powers and control of security agencies and it has the support of
Governor Ortom and the Benue State Government.”
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com