By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Benue Indigenes under the banner of Benue Media Forum (BMF), Kaduna chapter has declared support for their home state governor, Samuel Ortom of over his detribalized position and stand against anti open cattle grazing law.
The Kaduna chapter of the forum, in an elaborate statement issued on January 24 in Kaduna, saluted the passion and courage demonstrated by the governor, his cabinet, leadership and members of the State House of Assembly, and the people of Benue State, in making sure the law was passed and implemented.
The statement, jointly signed by the forum’s chairman and secretary, Idibia Gabriel and Dekera Nicholas, respectively, also supported the move to pullout from the North if northing was done to stop the genocide.
“Given the speed of events unfolding, and the consistent coordinated attacks and killing of innocent lives in Benue State, and the shedding of blood in our beloved country Nigeria by murderous Fulani herdsmen, BMF, Kaduna chapter, has declared total support for Governor Samuel Ortom and his cabinet,” it stated.
BMF expressed sadness that: “Over three weeks down the memory lane, the media has been awash with reports of the senseless killings and bloodletting by Fulani Herdsmen who came in their numbers to declare war against the harmless farmers. Beginning from Agatu, to the recent past, particularly the attacks and spates of killings on 1st January 2018, when the murderers began unleashing mayhem on the law abiding indigenes of Benue State. Hundreds of people have been sent to their early graves, mostly women and children, and properties worth billions have been destroyed”.
It lamented that “Of the 23 local government areas in the state, none was spared of this callous and wanton killings. Most deadly and worse affected by the inhuman herders invasion were Agatu, Guma and Logo local government areas respectively, where over 373 people lost their lives during attacks, while several others suffered various degrees of injuries.
“The recent attack which broke the Carmel’s back was the killing at one swing, of over 73 people in Guma and Logo local government areas with scores injured, still receiving medical attention at different hospitals in the state.
“In all these, no clear cut decisions were taken by the current administration at the centre to end the bloodletting, even when over 300 were killed in Agatu, including women and children, all in Benue state of the north”, it stated.
It stressed that in view of the deliberate killings in the state, the Benue Media Forum, Kaduna State branch, “comprising all Benue indigenes based, and actively involved in journalism practice in Kaduna, therefore joins other well meaning Nigerians in condemning the inhuman and dastardly act of violence by the herdsmen in the country”.
It noted, with dismay, that based on past experiences in Plateau, Kaduna and Taraba states of Middle Belt, “it’s our utmost conviction that the Anti-open grazing law in Benue can never be used as the basis for the killings or the yardstick for the senseless killings which started in Benue State sometime in 2008, when Fulani herdsmen invaded Guma and Gwer-West local government areas of the state.
“Painstaking efforts made by the then Governor Gabriel Torwua Suswam-led administration, could not end the killings.
“Between 2013 and 2014, the Fulani herdsmen defied all possible means of ending the killings, as they went further and killed over 250 people in Guma, Logo and Gwer-West local government areas of the state, and destroyed property worth billions of Naira, including the native home of the late Tor-Tiv the fourth, Dr. Alfred Akawe Torkula. In 2016, the killings persisted in many LGAs, leaving the government with no option but to outlaw open grazing to protect lives and property of the Benue people who are predominantly farmers”, the statement added.
Forum noted that “The law which took effect in November 2017 effectively, recorded no carnages, until on the 1st of January, when the planned Fulani herdsmen attacked Benue, unleashing mayhem on innocent people.
“In as much as we salute security operatives on their effort towards ending the killings, we call on the Inspector General of Police to arrest the alleged masterminds of the Benue killings and bring them to book.
“It is however shocking and disheartening that the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), which is the umbrella body for all northerners, and Benue, did not deem it fit to condemn this atrocious act by Fulani herdsmen who have continued to invade communities in Benue and other states across Nigeria.
“We therefore call on Benue State Government and indigenes to withdraw membership of the ACF henceforth, as the body has demonstrated bias considerably, and insensitivity to the Benue people.”
