Herdsmen Killings: Stop Running Away, Defend Yourselves With Stones, Benue Gov Tells Residents

Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, on Tuesday told the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the state to stop running away from their attackers but to use stones to defend themselves.

His statement follows the uncontrollable rate of killings by suspected herdsmen in the state.

Recall that only recently, 24 persons were killed in an attack on Mbapa, Mbapupuu, Mbachohon, and Enger, all in Agagbe District in Gwer-West LGA.

The governor, who visited the displaced persons after armed herdsmen attacked Naka, Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State, said he was tired of keeping IDPs in camps, adding that it was high time that they went home and embrace self-defence.

He said, “David in the Bible used ordinary stone to defeat his enemy, it is now time for you to stay at home and use the stone in your homes to defend yourself instead of running away.

“I believe in the rule of law, equity and fairness, but I cannot continue to keep IDPs and l can’t afford to have another IDPs in Gwer West. This must stop. We must stop truncating the future of our younger generation.

“When we allow laws to be violated and nobody takes action, it then allows for impunity and when you give room to impunity, it will result to anarchy which will in turn breed a lawless society.

“Therefore, we the citizens must rise up to support the security agencies by way of providing lawful and necessary logistics such as information, equipment and financial support to back up their operations.

“Just yesterday (Monday), a soldier was killed in Guma, security agents are not spared. Security challenges are enormous. The gruesome murder of 24 people by Fulani herdsmen is quite condemnable.

“Time has come if you are willing to live in Benue State, you must be ready and willing to be law abiding.”