President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday expressed shock that Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, disobeyed his directives to stay in Benue until the blood-letting between farmers and herdsmen was resolved.
The President, who also said his government is deeply worried about incessant attacks on Benue's rural communities and vowed to end the menace very soon, spoke at the meeting he had with leaders in the state during his assessment visit to Benue State.
"I cannot overlook the killings in Benue or any other part of Nigeria. I cannot do that. I am genuinely worried about the attacks in Benue and we are doing everything to end them," he said. He said the insecurity in some states was a major concern to his government, adding that concerted efforts are being made to restore normalcy to every part of the country.
President Buhari said he was surprised at the revelation that the IGP did not spend 24 hours in Benue, when he directed him to relocate to the state and remain there till peace was restored. "I am getting to know this in this meeting. I am quite surprised," he said. President Buhari had, in the wake of public outcry that greeted the New Year Day murder of 73 persons by suspected herdsmen, instructed the IGP to relocate to the state until the carnage was contained. The Police boss had reportedly spent less than 24 hours in the state before leaving and this attracted more condemnation from Nigerians. Also at his meeting with farmers, herdsmen, government officials and other stakeholders in Makurdi yesterday, Buhari denied insinuations that he was not interested in what was happening in Benue State.
He, however, said the meeting was not the best place to expose the inefficiency of his appointees, and appealed to Benue people to exercise restraint and live in peace with their neighbours. He also appealed to the people to pay more attention to farming, especially rice cultivation, saying that rice importation had dropped by 90 per cent since some states embarked on massive production of the commodity.
In his speech, Governor Samuel Ortom said: "Mr. President, you are known as a man of integrity and uprightness and you have always fought for justice. "On January 11, 2018, we buried 73 citizens, including women and children. All of them were brutally slaughtered in their sleep by armed herdsmen in the early hours of the New Year 2018. At least 65 more have been killed in Guma and Logo local government areas after the mass burial. "Just a few days ago, 26 of our men, women and children in Omusu Okpokwu Local Government Area were killed. Also over 5,000 people were displaced in Mbatoho Community in Makurdi Local Government Area.
In his speech, Governor Samuel Ortom said: "Mr. President, you are known as a man of integrity and uprightness and you have always fought for justice. "On January 11, 2018, we buried 73 citizens, including women and children. All of them were brutally slaughtered in their sleep by armed herdsmen in the early hours of the New Year 2018. At least 65 more have been killed in Guma and Logo local government areas after the mass burial. "Just a few days ago, 26 of our men, women and children in Omusu Okpokwu Local Government Area were killed. Also over 5,000 people were displaced in Mbatoho Community in Makurdi Local Government Area.
"Attacks by armed herdsmen have continued in various communities in the state leading to the displacement of over 170,000 people. More than 60 per cent of this figure are children who have been forced out of school. "These and many others now live in the eight Internally Displaced People's camps scattered across the state namely: Abagana, Daudu1, Gbajimba, Tse Ginde, Anyiin, Abeda and Ugba. Their homes and farms have also been destroyed and taken over by armed herdsmen. "You had directed the Inspector-General of Police to relocate to Benue and stop the killings. Issues of capacity and integrity may have accounted for the disobedience of your orders but you responded swiftly. "We plead with you to take steps to reduce the suffering of the over 170,000 of our countrymen in the eight Internally Displaced Camps. "The Federal Government should compensate them and assist in the rebuilding of their homes as promised by the Committee on Displaced People headed by the Vice-President. The primary and secondary schools, churches and health centres destroyed in several communities should be rebuilt for use again.
"We recall that on May 30, 2017, the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore in a 'World Press Conference' held in Abuja, opposed our Ranching Law. They called on Fulani herders in all of West Africa to come into Benue to help them reclaim their land. "In the same vein, Miyetti Allah Cattle Herders Association in their Press Conference declared that more blood will flow in Benue if the Ranching Law is not rescinded. "As a President that supports the rule of law, you will most certainly be offended by these Hate Speech(es) that may have crossed the red line. How can a group claim responsibility for the killings that happened and are going about scot free? How can a group make public these inciting and criminal declarations in an organized society and are not arrested by the Police? "Kindly order the immediate arrest and prosecution of the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore for carrying out their threats to attack Benue on account of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017." He appealed to the President to upgrade the military spike exercise going on in the state to stem the incursion of herdsmen into the state. "We hope that Exercise Ayem A' kpatuma will be upgraded to a full-scale operation with the capacity to chase away the invaders so that those who have been displaced can return to their homes. "I urge the Federal Government and states to support and promote the Ranching Law, so that together, we will stamp out the menace of herdsmen and farmers attacks and cattle rustling in Nigeria. There is no known better and credible alternative to Ranching,'' the governor said further.
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