Yesterday Monday, Pres. Buhari during an meeting in Abuja, called on the government and people of Benue State to exercise restraint following the recent attacks on some communities in the state which saw no fewer than 75 people dead in a gruesome bloodshed. He assured that all the perpetrators of violence in the state will be made to face the full wrath of the law without sentiments.
While receiving a delegation of political leaders, traditional rulers and elders of the state as led by Gov. Samuel Ortom at the Presidential Villa, Pres.Buhari informed that all those involved in the conflict that led to the loss of lives and properties in the community would not escape justice, including any unlawfully armed militia in the state.
Pres. Buhari commiserated with all the victims of the attacks, including those families who lost loved ones and properties, adding that efforts are being made by the Federal Government to compensate where necessary as well as ameliorate the situation of all the victims.
President Buhari further hinted that relieved materials as well as as other necessary humanitarian needs have been dispatched to be delivered through relevant agencies as a way of sympathesing and empathising with the families of the victims.
In his words:
“Your Excellency, the governor, and all the leaders here, I am appealing to you to try to restrain your people. I assure you that the Police, the Department of State Security and other security agencies had been directed to ensure that all those behind the mayhem get punished. I ask you in the name of God to accommodate your country men. You can also be assured that I am just as worried, and concerned with the situation,” he said.
Pres.Buhari told the delegation that his administration had already begun a process of finding a lasting solution to the perennial challenge of herdsmen conflict with farmers and communities around the country and that the Inspector General of Police had been directed to relocate to the state to provide viable security for lives and properties, while encouraging all Benue indigenes to trust the security agencies and report any suspicious cases of tresspass in the state.
In his remarks, the Benue State Governor thanked Pres. Buhari another members of his cabinet and stressed that he is convinced that the tension in the state would quell with the new development and intervention by the Federal Government. In his assurance to the President he acclaimed thus: “We will leave here to rebuild confidence in our people,” he said.
Present at the meeting were Benue State Deputy Governor, Benson Abounu, former Senate President, David Mark, former Benue State Governor, Sen. George Akume and Sen. Barnabas Gemade. Others include Sen. JK Waku, Gen. Lawrence Onoja (rtd), Brig. Gen. John Atom Kpera (rtd), former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa, Speaker of Benue State House of Assembly, Terkimbir Kyambe, and other members of the National and State Assembly from the State.
Photo Credit: Tribune
Nelson A.Osuala
Is a Blogger & the Associate Editor of Negroidhaven
