Benue Holds Mass Burial For Fresh 26
The Benue state government has held another mass burial for 26 people killed last Monday, March 5, 2018 in Okpokwu LGA by Fulani herdsmen.
Speaking on Thursday at St. Bernard Primary School Ugwu-Okpoga in Okpokwu Local Government Area during the mass funeral service in honour of the 26 victims of herdsmen attacks in Omusu and Okana communities, Governor Samuel Ortom reiterated his call on security agencies to arrest the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, whom he said were the sponsors of the killings in the state based on comments credited to them.
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The governor while condoling the bereaved families said the death of the victims and many others would put an end to the massacre of Benue people.
Ortom, who stated that the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 have come to stay in Benue, noted that there was no land for open grazing and crop farming to go on concurrently.
He assured the Benue people that his administration would continue to respond swiftly to security challenges in the state adding that data were being gathered for compensation for damages caused by herdsmen attacks in Benue.
In their separate remarks, the Deputy Governor, Engr. Benson Abouno, Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly, Mr. James Okefe, representative of Bishop Apochi, Rev. Fr. John Attah, among others expressed appreciation to the governor for his support to the bereaved families and pledged their support for the ranching law.
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On their part, the three socio-cultural groups in the state represented by Mr. Omele Amali and the representative of Movement Against Fulani Occupation, MAFO, Pastor Dave Ogbole, said they saw the attacks coming and reported to relevant authorities but nothing was done to avert the massacre.
Pastor Ogbole expressed disappointment with the federal government over its inactions towards the killings and called on the international community to rise up and stop a repeat of Rwanda in Nigeria saying the resort by Benue people to remain law-abiding should not be mistaken for cowardice.
In a sermon, Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Benue state chapter, Rev. Akpen Leva prayed God to grant the governor and the entire Benue people the strength to overcome the menace of herdsmen attacks.
