Benue State
indigenes have said they will no longer fold their hands and watch their
kinsmen being massacred every other day by suspected Fulani herdsmen, stressing
that they would rise to defend themselves should the Federal Government
continue to dilly-dally on their security.
They also
called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare herdsmen “a terrorist
organization” and arrest leaders of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association
of Nigeria (MACBAN) for consistently threatening more bloodshed in Benue State.
The people,
under the auspices of Benue Indigenes in Southeast, comprising the Tiv, Idoma
and Igede natives, dropped the hint in Enugu, yesterday, during a protest rally
against the continuous killings in Benue by herdsmen.
The rally,
which was originally billed for the Michael Okpara Square, was disrupted when
armed policemen occupied the venue, forcing the organizers to relocate to
another venue in the city.
The
protesters carried placards bearing various inscriptions like; “we are not
happy! Stop the killing in all parts of Nigeria. Please act now and save Benue.
Your cows are not more important than human lives, cattle cannot be given more
attention than human lives” among others.
They
declared their total support for the anti-grazing law promulgated by the Benue
State government.In a written statement signed by President of Tiv community,
Dr. David Wayas, President, Idoma Community Andrew Tyonongo and David Achi, the
Benue natives said: “We call on Governor Samuel Ortom to ensure total
compliance and we reject the establishment of cattle colonies in our state. We
call on President Buhari to declare the herdsmen terrorists.
“We also
call on Mr. President to order immediate arrest and prosecution of Bosso and
other leaders of Miyetti Allah who have consistently threatened more bloodshed
in Benue State, as well as, order the enforcement of the anti-grazing law.”
Addressing
newsmen shortly after the rally, Wayas
said it was intended to first of all, register their condolences and observe a
brief moment of solitude for their brothers and sisters who lost their lives in
the invasion.
He said:
“But most importantly, we are here to communicate our position before the
world, against the continuous killings and merciless massacre of innocent,
harmless, defenceless and very patriotic people of our dear Benue State, who
have become the booty in the hand of nomadic terrorist herdsman.
“It is
disheartening to note indeed, that the lives of those who lost their lives by
herdsmen attacks on our land of course are yet to be quantified. But for the
sake of those of us still alive, we are here to say ‘enough is enough’.
“We can no
longer keep quiet, we can no longer be silent, and we will continue to speak
whether heard or not until those behind this evil carnage is brought to
justice. We fought for the unification of this country. Our ancestral fathers
fought to unite Nigeria. Benue State fought to bring about what is today
Nigeria. But, today, those who call us their brothers are slaughtering us.
Today, we are denied our rights of existence.
“Today, we
have become refuges in our own country. And yet we have a government, which
promise to protect our lives and our property. How long shall we allow this
evil to continue to prosper for saying nothing? How much longer? We may not
have the weapon! We have a common voice as a people. We have a voice to say
‘enough is enough’. And we have a choice to choose where to belong, as long as
these decisions will continue to guarantee our rights to live in peace and not
in pieces. We have a choice”.
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