End herdsmen/farmers crises, Ortom tasks FG

As herdsmen’s renewed attacks on farming communities in Benue state assumed a dangerous new dimension, the state governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, has called on the federal government to make a definite pronouncement on the ongoing farmers/herdsmen crises across the country.

Ortom who made the call while addressing those displaced in the wake of the killing of six persons and destruction of property in Buruku local government area of the state yesterday, said one person was also abducted by herdsmen who were not provoked in any way.

Governor Ortom lamented: “Today, I am very sad; this is unwarranted, this is uncalled for; people that are supporting Federal Government’s diversification programme through farming are being
murdered in cold blood”, he maintained.

Lamenting further, governor Ortom said the people are now scattered, they have no houses, so, they are open to the hazard of bad weather, hunger and diseases.

He asked the federal government to take definite actions so that what happened in Kaduna state would not happen in Benue and maintained that the global best practice is ranching of cattle.

According to him, the federal government has been quiet for too long. He said what Benue is experiencing now was what she experienced four years ago and emphasized that the state has no land for grazing.

The governor who visited the irrigation farm where six persons were killed at the weekend, said farmers are being attacked at the time they are preparing for cropping.

He said he has been appealing to his people not to take laws into their hands but how long would he appeal for restraint when they are being killed every day?

Ortom charged security personnel to apprehend those that killed six persons in Buruku and further asked them to arrest and prosecute armed herdsmen and farmers.

He said the worrisome aspect of the attacks on Benue communities is that in Gbinev ward of Buruku local government where five villages have been sacked, law enforcement agencies have not arrested any of the perpetrators and urged security men to step up efforts.
He directed the House of Assembly to give priority to the anti-grazing bill even it means suspending debate on the 2017 appropriation bill and asked security men to immediately escort herdsmen in the area back to where they came from.

The governor told those displaced that by Wednesday, they should be able to go back to their homes and assured that the state government would cater for their welfare until they leave the camp.

He said by yesterday, relief materials would have been distributed to them.