Residents in
Makurdi have trooped out in their thousands to protest against the January 2,
herdsmen’s attack on farmers in which 20 people were killed.
The
protesters are calling on the presidency to bring the culprits to book.
The
protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “Presidential
Intervention needed”, “Why value cows to Humans”, and “Stop this incessant
blood bath”.
Some of them chanted, “We will not vote for the present
administration again both the State and Federal level if this crises don’t
stop”. The News Agency of Nigeria( NAN) reports that the protests involved
mostly youths who barricaded major roads leading in and out of Makurdi, the
state capital. The youth have vowed not to leave the streets until the
presidency spoke on the killings.
They were also asking government to intervene
in the series of other attacks on some rural communities by armed herdsmen. Mr
Terhemen Anum, told NAN on Wednesday that residents of Guma and Logo local
government areas have yet to determined number of peasant farmers, women,
children and the aged inclusive that were killed. Also Mrs Ruth Agba said the
killing of Benue farmers, and destruction to their homes and farms was not
different from Boko Haram activities in the northeast. Governor Samuel Ortom of
Benue told journalists on Tuesday that 20 people were killed in the mayhem.
Ortom called on the Federal Government to wade into the matter so as to avert
further destruction of lives and property. Meanwhile, the Police in Benue has
confirmed the arrest of eight herdsmen in connection of the New Year Day’s
attacks in Guma and Logo Local Governments. The Police Public Relations Officer
in the state, Mr. Moses Yamu, said on Wednesday in Makurdi, “eight herdsmen,
six in Guma and two in Logo, have been arrested in connection with the
attacks”. He added that the command had made additional deployments to the
troubled area to forestall further occurrence and restore confidence of the
people. Yamu stressed the situation in the two local government areas had been
brought under control while investigation was on-going.
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