The killings in Benue State continued on Wednesday as three
protesters, who were protesting about the killing of scores of
people in six communities in the state by herdsmen, were feared
dead in a violent demonstration by some youths in Makurdi, the
state capital.
The protest followed the killing of residents of about five
communities in the state between Monday and Tuesday by cattle
rearers.
No fewer than 20 people were killed and 30 others injured when
herdsmen attacked the communities in between the New Year’s Day and
Tuesday.
The invaders attacked communities in the Guma and Logo Local
Government Areas of the state.
The protesters in Makurdi on Wednesday almost attacked the state
governor, Samuel Ortom, during his visit to calm the frayed
nerves.
Security operatives saved the day by whisking the governor into
a waiting vehicle.
To avert a breakdown of law and order, the military, police,
Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and vigilantes were
drafted to beef up security during the violent protest.
The Assistant Director of Information of Nigerian Army, 707
Special Force, Major Olabisi Ayeni, however, denied knowledge of
any death during the protest.
Also, the spokesman, Benue State Police Command, Moses Yamu,
said, “The command is not in receipt of any such report
please.”
Thousands of youths across the state had embarked on a protest
in Makurdi on Wednesday, demanding an immediate stop to herdsmen
attacks.
The youth, who carried placards, blocked the Lafia-Makurdi
highway, the Otukpo road and the Old Bridge Road and converged on
the popular Wurukum roundabout.
As early as 7am, the protesters trooped to major roads, mounting
barricades in strategic areas, blocking both entry and exit routes,
which also prevented vehicular movement in and out of Makurdi.
The President, National Association of Ihiarev Youths, Bem
Terna, lamented that despite the killings by the herdsmen,
President Muhammadu Buhari had yet to make any statement or order
the arrest of the suspects.
He said the protest would continue for seven days.
Terna stated, “The Federal Government is not doing anything to
address this situation. In fact, it is conspiring against the state
to allow this carnage to continue. The President is adamant over
the issue. We will continue to stage this protest for seven days.
We want the entire world and the international community to come to
our aid.”
The youth defied the tear gas canisters fired by security
operatives to disperse them while they kept stoning the security
agents.
The demonstrators turned violent when Ortom visited them at
Wurukum, insisting that the only person who they were ready to
listen to was Buhari.
Security operatives had to whisk away the governor in a waiting
vehicle when the situation became tense.
Meanwhile, Ortom, who later spoke to newsmen at the Government
House, noted that he understood the pain of the youths, but called
for calm and urged the people to go about their lawful business
without fear.
He said he had already called for additional deployment of
security operatives in Makurdi and the local government areas of
the state.
Ortom added, “We have asked for additional deployment of
security in Makurdi and placed other local government areas on red
alert. No curfew for now as it would mean more hardship for people
travelling to their bases.
“I have reiterated my call on the Federal Government to arrest
the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore because they have
openly said they would resist the law on open-grazing, which is an
initiative of the Benue people. There is no other alternative to
ranching.
“But I think the right thing to do is for the Federal Government
to arrest the leadership of MAKH or else, they are telling us that
we are not part of Nigeria. Their threats have become a reality and
they are living in Abuja with the Federal Government.
“If FG does not arrest them, then they are throwing us into a
state of anarchy. No going back on the law.”
Eight herdsmen arrested –Police
Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command said it had arrested
eight Fulani herdsmen in connection with the attack on five
communities on Tuesday.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, stated this
in a statement on Wednesday.
According to the statement, six of the herdsmen were arrested in
Guma while two were apprehended in the Logo Local Government areas
of the state.
The PPRO stated, “The Commissioner of Police, Bashir Makama,
called for calm as eight herdsmen, six in Guma and two in Logo,
have been arrested in connection with the attack.”
The statement added that 17 persons, including seven members of
Benue State Livestock Guards, were killed and their vehicles burnt
and an uncertain number of people injured in the attacks.
Meanwhile, prominent citizens in Benue State have condemned the
herdsmen’s attacks.
Senator Joseph Waku called on the Federal Government to declare
emergency on the activities of the Fulani herdsmen in Benue
State.
Also, the Benue State Chairman, All Progressives Congress,
Comrade Aba Yaro, called on the Federal Government to tackle the
menace of herdsmen in the state.
Speaking with one of our correspondents on the telephone, Waku,
who hails from one of the communities attacked by the killer
herdsmen, said he lost relatives, farmlands and other things to the
latest Fulani attacks in Guma.
Waku added, “I’m a direct victim of the two days attack on my
community because several lives were lost, also farmlands and other
properties.
“For now, I cannot quantify what we lost because some of the
bodies of victims of the attacks were yet to be found.
“I’m calling on the Federal Government to declare an emergency
on the activities of the herdsmen and to also deploy soldiers
permanently in the troubled areas.”
Yaro, who condemned the latest killings in the state, said the
party was in full support of the anti-open grazing law enacted by
Ortom.
He called on the Federal Government to show more concern to the
people of the state and to join hands in condemning the act which
he described as an act of terrorism.
The killings in Benue State continued on Wednesday as three
protesters, who were protesting about the killing of scores of
people in six communities in the state by herdsmen, were feared
dead in a violent demonstration by some youths in Makurdi, the
state capital.
The protest followed the killing of residents of about five
communities in the state between Monday and Tuesday by cattle
rearers.
No fewer than 20 people were killed and 30 others injured when
herdsmen attacked the communities in between the New Year’s Day and
Tuesday.
The invaders attacked communities in the Guma and Logo Local
Government Areas of the state.
The protesters in Makurdi on Wednesday almost attacked the state
governor, Samuel Ortom, during his visit to calm the frayed
nerves.
Security operatives saved the day by whisking the governor into
a waiting vehicle.
To avert a breakdown of law and order, the military, police,
Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and vigilantes were
drafted to beef up security during the violent protest.
The Assistant Director of Information of Nigerian Army, 707
Special Force, Major Olabisi Ayeni, however, denied knowledge of
any death during the protest.
Also, the spokesman, Benue State Police Command, Moses Yamu,
said, “The command is not in receipt of any such report
please.”
Thousands of youths across the state had embarked on a protest
in Makurdi on Wednesday, demanding an immediate stop to herdsmen
attacks.
The youth, who carried placards, blocked the Lafia-Makurdi
highway, the Otukpo road and the Old Bridge Road and converged on
the popular Wurukum roundabout.
As early as 7am, the protesters trooped to major roads, mounting
barricades in strategic areas, blocking both entry and exit routes,
which also prevented vehicular movement in and out of Makurdi.
The President, National Association of Ihiarev Youths, Bem
Terna, lamented that despite the killings by the herdsmen,
President Muhammadu Buhari had yet to make any statement or order
the arrest of the suspects.
He said the protest would continue for seven days.
Terna stated, “The Federal Government is not doing anything to
address this situation. In fact, it is conspiring against the state
to allow this carnage to continue. The President is adamant over
the issue. We will continue to stage this protest for seven days.
We want the entire world and the international community to come to
our aid.”
The youth defied the tear gas canisters fired by security
operatives to disperse them while they kept stoning the security
agents.
The demonstrators turned violent when Ortom visited them at
Wurukum, insisting that the only person who they were ready to
listen to was Buhari.
Security operatives had to whisk away the governor in a waiting
vehicle when the situation became tense.
Meanwhile, Ortom, who later spoke to newsmen at the Government
House, noted that he understood the pain of the youths, but called
for calm and urged the people to go about their lawful business
without fear.
He said he had already called for additional deployment of
security operatives in Makurdi and the local government areas of
the state.
Ortom added, “We have asked for additional deployment of
security in Makurdi and placed other local government areas on red
alert. No curfew for now as it would mean more hardship for people
travelling to their bases.
“I have reiterated my call on the Federal Government to arrest
the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore because they have
openly said they would resist the law on open-grazing, which is an
initiative of the Benue people. There is no other alternative to
ranching.
“But I think the right thing to do is for the Federal Government
to arrest the leadership of MAKH or else, they are telling us that
we are not part of Nigeria. Their threats have become a reality and
they are living in Abuja with the Federal Government.
“If FG does not arrest them, then they are throwing us into a
state of anarchy. No going back on the law.”
Eight herdsmen arrested –Police
Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command said it had arrested
eight Fulani herdsmen in connection with the attack on five
communities on Tuesday.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, stated this
in a statement on Wednesday.
According to the statement, six of the herdsmen were arrested in
Guma while two were apprehended in the Logo Local Government areas
of the state.
The PPRO stated, “The Commissioner of Police, Bashir Makama,
called for calm as eight herdsmen, six in Guma and two in Logo,
have been arrested in connection with the attack.”
The statement added that 17 persons, including seven members of
Benue State Livestock Guards, were killed and their vehicles burnt
and an uncertain number of people injured in the attacks.
Meanwhile, prominent citizens in Benue State have condemned the
herdsmen’s attacks.
Senator Joseph Waku called on the Federal Government to declare
emergency on the activities of the Fulani herdsmen in Benue
State.
Also, the Benue State Chairman, All Progressives Congress,
Comrade Aba Yaro, called on the Federal Government to tackle the
menace of herdsmen in the state.
Speaking with one of our correspondents on the telephone, Waku,
who hails from one of the communities attacked by the killer
herdsmen, said he lost relatives, farmlands and other things to the
latest Fulani attacks in Guma.
Waku added, “I’m a direct victim of the two days attack on my
community because several lives were lost, also farmlands and other
properties.
“For now, I cannot quantify what we lost because some of the
bodies of victims of the attacks were yet to be found.
“I’m calling on the Federal Government to declare an emergency
on the activities of the herdsmen and to also deploy soldiers
permanently in the troubled areas.”
Yaro, who condemned the latest killings in the state, said the
party was in full support of the anti-open grazing law enacted by
Ortom.
He called on the Federal Government to show more concern to the
people of the state and to join hands in condemning the act which
he described as an act of terrorism.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/violent-protest-rocks-makurdi-atiku-mark-others-condemn-killings/