Benue: Two policemen killed as herdsmen step up attacks

Two mobile policemen drafted to the trouble spot were reported to have been killed yesterday.

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom alleged that the herdsmen launched attacks from the neighbouring Nasarawa State —a claim Governor Tanko Al-Makura rejected

Ortom spoke with State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari that lasted for about two hours at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The leadership of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, he said, should also be arrested and prosecuted for alleged genocide. The organisation insists the killings, which have caused over 70 deaths, were not done by herdsmen.

The governor said: “I am waiting to be briefed about what ‘colonies’ means; I don’t understand it and until I understand it…but like I keep saying, for us, the way forward is ranching and uptill this time, I am talking to you, the way forward is ranching because it’s global best practice.

“And it is the practice in other parts of the world –  on African soil in Swaziland, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, almost all African countries that rear cattle; they ranch, so why can’t we do the same thing here. For the colony thing, I don’t know what colony is.”

Already, because of the communications we have been having when this incidents started, actions have been taken as directed by him. The movement of the DIG (Deputy Inspector General) of Police, the movement of the IG (Inspector General) now to relocate to Benue State to ensure that this challenge is surmounted was at the instance of Mr. President.

“Of course, additional personnel of DSS (Department of State Services) and Police have been deployed and even the Army. We have additional personnel on ground now. We have … given them the logistics support to ensure that our people are protected.

We know that the continuity of this will create greater challenges. I don’t want it to continue. We are struggling with economic issues, we are struggling with political issues and we are struggling with several other issues in this country, security issues and all that, Benue State should not be part of this; there is no need for it.

“The law on prohibition of Open Grazing and Establishment of Ranching was made out of the necessity to ensure that we have peace for herdsmen and farmers and that is what we have done. The law seeks to protect all and as I talk to you, except this Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, who are instigating people to fight and to kill us, there are Fulani men in Benue State as I talk to you doing their business.