The Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has renewed his call on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare armed herdsmen killing innocent people in some communities of Benue State as terrorists.
The Governor’s call which was contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase follows repeated herdsmen attacks on different communities of the State in the last couple of months.
The latest of such attacks took place last night at Tse-Chembe community near Anyiin in Logo Local Government Area where the herders murdered 7 persons in cold blood and left many others badly injured.
Governor Ortom condemned the invasion and killings and described the situation as totally unacceptable. He said Benue State has a law which prohibits open grazing of livestock, and stresses that only a terrorist group would deliberately choose to violate the legislation as the armed herdsmen have done since the law was enacted in 2017.
Governor Ortom stated that declaring the armed herders operating in Benue State as terrorists will end the wave of impunity and guarantee the rule of law.
He called on people of the State, particularly those living in the affected areas to report any suspicious persons to security agencies.
The Governor commended officers and men of Operation Whirl Stroke for their prompt responses to distress calls, particularly that of Friday when the people of Tse-Chembe came under herdsmen’s attacks.
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He reassured the people that his administration will not surrender the State to criminal elements, be they the herdsmen or any other group. Governor Ortom said no amount of threats and attacks will stop the enforcement of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the State.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
