Following Tuesday’s attack on the Abagena community on the outskirts of the Benue State capital, the Benue Youth Forum (BYF) has called on the international community to beam its searchlight on the State to uncover the perpetrators and prevent more attacks.
President of the Forum, Terrence Kuanum who made the call at a media conference in Makurdi expressed deep concern over the unwarranted provocation and incessant attacks on the people of the State by suspected Fulani herdsmen which he noted have resulted in the death of over 70 people in the last 2 weeks.
“We must make this loud and clear that the entire Benue State is fully mobilised to defend its laws and land against any threat posed by members of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore and any other violent Fulani group.
We are a peace loving people but our peaceful and hospitable disposition should not be taken as fear or lack of courage. No part of Benue will be given for RUGA or Cattle Colony. President Buhari and his aides should better be told so”, the pressure group insisted.
The Forum also urged the Federal Government, through the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA to immediately rehabilitate the over 1 million internally displaced persons, IDPs in various camps in the State to enable them return to their ancestral homes.
The group expressed disappointment that the N10 billion which the Federal Government promised to release for the resettlement of those affected by the crisis is yet to be redeemed. It therefore appealed to the Buhari administration to fulfill its promise now to avoid further hardship and attacks on victims of the violence unleashed by herdsmen in the State.
Kuanum also reacted to the recent statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu in response to Governor Ortom’s earlier call on the President to act more sincerely and fairly to address security challenges in the country. The Forum says “Shehu is a Fulani megaphone using the machinery of State to push a devilish plot of subjugation.
“Garba Shehu is one of those close to the President who have caused more divisions among Nigerians on ethnic and religious lines than any other administration before Buhari’s.
Shehu and his likes celebrate each time another Fulani man is given a juicy appointment by Buhari to the chagrin of other ethnic groups. The nepotism being witnessed under this administration is unprecedented, yet, the likes of Shehu will never advise the President to retrace his steps before he plunges the country into deeper crisis,” he said.
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Kuanum also sent a strong message of caution to sons of the State whom he said, have chosen to be willing tools in the hands of enemies of the State to desist from such act.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
