The Benue State Caucus in the House of Representatives has
condemned what it described as the lukewarm attitude of the Federal
Government to the massacre of over 1,000 people of the state in 2016
alone, adding that no concrete moves have been made to stop the killings
in Agatu Local Government and other areas.
The caucus members said the massacre of the people of the
state by Fulani herdsmen is a genocide being downplayed or being ignored
until it spirals out of control.
Eight local government areas, including Agatu, Buruku,
Guma, Gwer-west, Logo, Kwande, Gwer- East and Katsina- Ala , they
explained, have been under perennial heavy attacks from the Fulani
herdsmen since 2013.Addressing newsmen Friday,
the caucus leader, Hon. Orker Jev (representing Buruku Federal
Constituency) lamented that despite the outrage which the Agatu killings
ought to evoke, only a few headlines and sympathetic comments from
high places were recorded.
Flanked by other members of the caucus, Jev described as ‘disturbing’
that every planting season in Benue is heralded by serial attacks from
the herdsmen, who also return during the harvesting season.
He queried the sources of the sophisticated ammunition
brandished by the rampaging herdsmen, and why it is taking the
government time to apprehend them.
“We condemn the belated reaction of President Muhammadu
Buhari and his Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazzau
(rtd) who broke their unholy silence a week after over 500 people were
killed and 10 villages razed in Agatu area of the state. It is curious
that up till today, the Investigative Panel purportedly instituted by
the Federal Government to inquire into the attacks has not been made
public or inaugurated.”
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