Benue: Soldier, 24 Others Killed In Renewed Killings – Ortom

A soldier has been killed by marauding Fulani herdsmen in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Governor Samuel Ortom has said.

He also confirmed that the death toll of the recent killings by Fulani herdsmen in some communities in Gwer West Local Government Area has risen from 10 to 24.

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The governor, who stated this when he visited Gwer West Local Government to condole with the people, condemned the renewed killings in the state.

He called on security agencies to up their game, equipment, number of personnel and patrol in the flashpoint areas, saying they must not allow the barbaric acts to continue to prevail on innocent Benue people.

He reiterated that the Anti-Open Grazing Law was not targeted at a particular group but meant to direct and help all groups to live in peace.

“But when people violate the law and there are no sanctions, impunity, lawlessness and anarchy sets in. When anarchy sets in, no one will be safe as we are seeing security men and civilians killed in Benue.”

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Governor Ortom lamented that since the New Year day attacks on Logo and Guma LGAs of the state, 11 policemen and three men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) have been killed by the herdsmen.

He insisted there is no alternative to obeying the law and challenged Benue youths and people of the affected communities to stop running away but stand and defend themselves from every form of external aggression.

“It is not enough to just run away. You must stay and defend your land. These killings are enough and we cannot take it again. This land belongs to us and we are not going anywhere”, he said.

Ortom however promised to continue to work together with traditional rulers and state vigilantes to support and strengthen security agencies in the state through logistics to tackle issues of insecurity in Benue.

Earlier, paramount ruler, Gwer West LGA, HRH, Ter Nagi, Chief Daniel Abomtse said the LG has lost about 212 persons to herdsmen attacks since 2011 including the recent attacks which have claimed 24 lives.

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Abomtse reported that the herdsmen, who were in the habit of blocking the Makurdi/Naka highway to carry out their activities, abducted one of their youths on Monday and matcheted three other persons along the road on Tuesday.

The council chairman, Francis Ayagah, said apart from those that lost their lives seven other persons were wounded and being treated of various degrees of injury.

He told the governor that he has identified some of the attackers, collated their phone numbers and handed it over to security agencies in the state.

He also said he has also petitioned the Inspector General of Police over the suspects saying “I call on security agencies to capitalise on the efforts I have made so far in bringing perpetrators of these heinous crimes to book.”

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