Leaders of Benue state’s three major tribes, under the aegis of the Mzough U Tiv, MUT, Ochetoha K’Idoma, OKI, and Omi Ny’ Igede, ONI, have decried recent killings in the state and thus called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a State of Emergency on security in the nation with immediate effect. Chief. Iorbee Ihagh, the leaders’ Chairperson and President General of Mzough U Tiv, World Wide, delivered the message on Monday in Makurdi, capital of the state.
He argues that the President have to take swift action because the people of the state have had it up to here with the savage murders of their loved ones at the hands of armed herdsmen. The leaders who have spoken out in response to the recent murders in various sections of the state have expressed concern that the violence in Benue state is gradually spiraling out of control. They pointed out that despite the fact that a President rules Nigeria, it doesn’t seem that way. Fulani herders reportedly murdered 86 people in Benue in only two days, and an estimated 120 people in the state over the period of a week.
IDP camps have been subject to violence at the hands of the herdsmen.
Chief. Ihagh said the President was being complacent with the state and not doing anything to protect its citizens. There have been too many killings, he continued, and every time our people are killed, the president releases a statement yet fails to act. Moreover, he said the Fulani are permitted to carry AK-47s for self-defense, but the farmers who are responsible for providing the food consumed in the nation are left unprotected and inevitably get murdered. Because of this, the market price of farm produce has become more costly than ever.
He further said that many residents of the state have been forced to flee their homes, and that even Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps have been subject to violence at the hands of the herdsmen. The Chairman once again reckoned that it is time for the President to declare a state of emergency on security with immediate effect saying the Fulani herdsmen spiral killings in the state are getting out of control. There are also factions out there that claim Nigeria as their own, but in reality, we are all Nigerians, he added.
Herders should be labeled as a terrorist group.
There is no time to waste when people are being slain every day, he says, therefore President Buhari should declare a state of emergency on security before the end of his administration. Chief. Ihagh expressed bewilderment over why the current government would take such a light hand in dealing with the herdsman’s disastrous operation across the nation, given that it was this same administration that labeled the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) a terrorist organization. As such, he claimed the herders should likewise be labeled a terrorist group.
On the other hand, he asked the government to fulfil the Vice President’s vow to grant funding worth N10 billion to aid the IDPs in resettling their various abodes during his visit to Benue state a few years ago. The leaders demanded that the Buhari government follow through on the promise before May 29th, when power would be transferred to the next administration. According to the chief, people in the state deserve the rights as Nigerian citizens since they are integral to the country’s fabric. “We also believe that their goal is to take over Benue territory, but we cannot accept that even if it means murdering all of us”, he stated in his statement.
Tribal leader urges ranching as primary method of animal husbandry.
To further alleviate the situation, the tribal leaders have requested that the federal government embrace ranching as the primary method of animal husbandry in the nation. As farmers, the driving force of the country’s agricultural production, are being murdered by herdsmen, the leaders argued that the government’s efforts to wean the economy off of oil-based by promoting agricultural production are futile. Also, they portend that the government’s efforts to promote food security is an improbable move, since they have failed to safeguard farmers who produce food for domestic use.
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Benue tribal leaders call for SoE on security. – The violence in Benue state is gradually spiraling out of control. – Express your point of view.
The call for a State of Emergency on security in Benue state is an urgent and necessary step towards restoring peace and stability to the state. The federal government needs to act decisively to address the spiraling insecurity challenges in the state, and across the country. The government needs to provide adequate security measures to protect the citizens and ensure the rule of law prevails in the state.
Wow it’s absurd to think that a reason for food scarcity in the country is as a result of farmers being killed in states that majorly deal with agriculture, this country’s deficiencies never ceases to amaze me.
The governor of benue should look for ways to amend their security in the state because it is affecting the lives and property of many people in the state and that is sad because they wont live peaceful lives.
It is unfortunate that so many people in the state have been compelled to leave their homes and that there are now going to be a shortage of adequate housing options.
The Benue state government should do something regarding the Benue situation. They should call for peace and ensure security is on guard to quell the worrisome tribal war.
It seems our president Mohammed Buhari is helpless in the face of the incessant Fulani herdsmen attacks in Benue state. Fulani herders parade AK-47 but the ordinary Nigerians are not permitted to move around with one. Please, the Federal Government should step in and declare a state of emergency before things go out of hand.
Calling for state of emergency on security is too much. The herdsman issue is a matter the government can resolve by enhancing our security level and enforcing necessary policy and regulations. But we have not see any effective measure from the government part.
It is really sad that the IDP camp which is supposed to be a safe place for the people displaced by the herdsmen after they were chased from their communities are now main target of this terrorists and nothing much is been done by the right authority to protect this people.Government should be proactive in doing their primary assignment.
Benue state experiences frequent unrest, the government needs to tighten the security in that state so people won’t be exposed to danger of insecurity
Benue tribal leaders call for SoE on security. Governor of the has the major work. He need to work with the elders of the land in other to put things in place. If the governor did not do the right thing it will really affect the state standards
The blood shedding and letting by the fulani herdsmen has come to climax in Benue state and should be addressed urgently before it goes beyond control. The President seems to be helpless in handling this situation. It will be better for the Federal Government to declare state of emergency now before it is too late.
The violence need to be handle soon for it not to get out of control people are already suffering alot due to this violence, tighting up the security so everywhere can be save and sound benue government need to act fast on it