₦airaland Forum

Members of Shitile community in Katsina Ala Local Government Area of Benue State are accusing a militia of kidnapping and killing residents.

The residents sent a petition to the presidency and other local and international human rights organisations on the matter.

They named the militia as Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF, and said it reportedly has the support of the state government.

In the petition, dated July 24, 2017 and signed by 20 persons on behalf of the community, the residents said the CJTF activities had taken “a nasty and brutish turn” for the people of the community.

The residents said they were being “hounded and haunted by a reign of terror characterised by frequent and rampant extra judicial killings, physical and psychological battering of women and children and wanton destruction of residential and commercial properties, all at the hands of one Aondona Ishenge.”

The petitioners said Mr. Ishenge, otherwise known as “Tor-Abaji,” and his accomplices among whom is one, Ternenge Orijondo, also known as Or-Ijondo, “operate under the canopy proclaimed by him as the Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF, and purportedly emplaced by the Government of Benue State”.

They said the CJTF as a Benue State Government funded quasi-security apparatus “is supervised and armed with sophisticated automatic firearms through the office of the Security Adviser, Edwin Jando (rtd) and commanded by one Aliyu Tashaku, who enjoys the ignoble fame of having been an operative of the Boko Haram terrorist group.”

They also said under the control of Tor-Abaji, the CJTF “has changed the taste and colouration of life for the people of our community, killing and maiming at will, as well as burning down and utterly destroying homes and businesses of our people, leaving us in a state of heightening terror, trauma and total insecurity”.

They allege that the crisis could be traced to the degenerating security situation dating back to November 2016 when two persons, Orkar Galgbom and Wangyo Mbatsav, were allegedly killed by CJTF in Utyondu village, of Mbayongo district in the area.

“In January 2017, there were many killed at Tse-Igbe, while on the 18th, 25th and 26th days of June, 2017, Tor-Abaji, dressed in military uniforms and armed with sophisticated automatic rifles, together with his horde of heavily armed gang moved through Abaji settlement on a spree of destruction, burning down houses and brutalising women and children, after which he arrested some targeted persons whom he took away to an undisclosed located and subjected them to severe torture, resulting in scores of deaths

“A number of persons were lucky to have escaped alive from the torture rounds, among them Orafalorlumun Gbiseh and Terfa Achia, both of whom narrated how Tor-Abaji, while torturing his victims had boasted of having the support of government which he bragged placed him above the law, even as he said to have vowed to bring all political opponents of the ruling government to their knees by force of arms,” they said.

The petitioners also said, while all of this was going on, they made several reports to security agencies within the state but received no response.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/benue-community-accuses-militia-of-kidnapping-killing-residents/

Former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, has lambasted President Muhammadu Buhari for not visiting the state, following the alleged attacks by Fulani herdsmen.

Speaking with newsmen yesterday in Makurdi, the state capital, the former governor said Buhari should have visited Benue first to commiserate with the government and people of the state over the loss of many innocent lives.

According to Suswam, “I am not in a position to comment on his visit (to Nasarawa) because I’m not in his party. Secondly, I know that as a President, he must have had his programme outlined for the year but that notwithstanding, the Benue case is an emergency.

“One would expect that a place that lost 73 People at once, he (Buhari) would have been more concerned about visiting such area. One would expect that a responsive government would have visited Benue to condole with the people over the gruesome murder of innocent lives.

“I have condemned the killing in totality. I already sent a message encouraging the governor to talk to people across party lines and I’m happy the President has reacted by asking that the perpetrators of the killings be arrested.

“I think he reacted as a result of the national condemnation of the killings. It’s not good for a country to experience loss of lives like that.”

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/former-gov-suswam-slams-president-buhari-for-not-visiting-benue-state/

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, has explained why ranching remains the best panacea to the clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the country.

Speaking during his appearance on a special Channels Television programme. The Core on Wednesday, Ogbeh said people were against the decision because ranches were poorly managed.

“It’s very nice to say ranches won’t work, they won’t work because they were not well managed. It’s not enough to cut out an area and say it’s a grazing reserve – grow the grass,” he said.

Responding to those calling for the creation of grazing routes, the minister noted that such recommendation would do more harm than good as it could be a recipe for more chaos.

He pointed out a situation when he was in Katsina State with Governor Aminu Masari where he was informed that about 3,000 cows have just arrived the state from the Republic of Niger.

Ogbeh, who recalled that he was widely insulted over his comments on the social media, said he had written to state governors to request for lands for grazing.

He was, however, disappointed that the responses he got were not encouraging as a majority of the governors said they had no land for such purpose.

On the causes of the clashes, the Minister said: “two years ago when I came into the Ministry, I wrote to all the state governors saying, ‘we face danger and this crisis can only get worse if we do nothing’.

“Can we have some lands in your state where we create large reserves of ranches to keep these cattle and give them the grass, the water, and the medication they need? Some replied positively, and some said no.

“We must ranch, there’s no other way out of this. We either ranch or banish cattle from Nigeria.”‎

He further accused the governors of being careless in addressing the crisis and called for a reform in the management of livestock in the country.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/we-either-ranch-or-banish-cattle-from-nigeria-audu-ogbeh-says/

More photos here: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/gov-wike-visits-benue-state-to-condole-with-ortom-over-the-recent-killings-photos/

Putting aside their political diefferences, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, today paid a condolence visit to Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, over the various herdsmen attack in the state. Governor Wike is a Member Of People's Democratic Party (PDP), while Governor Ortom is a Member Of All Progressives Congress (APC). 

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/gov-wike-visits-benue-state-to-condole-with-ortom-over-the-recent-killings-photos/

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, has explained why he did not go to neighboruing Nasarawa State to welcome President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday. 

Many critics were wondering why Ortom failed to welcome the president, who doubles as his party leader at the event but rather sent his deputy, Benson Abounu to represent him.

Ortom in a swift reaction said he could not leave his people who were being killed by the marauding herdsmen to welcome the president, hence his reason to send his deputy to represent him.

He said, “I was invited by my colleague from Nasarawa state over the visit of the President. As a mark of honour and respect for his office and that of the president, I have sent my deputy to represent me because I cannot leave the state when my people are being killed.”

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/gov-ortom-reveals-why-he-refuse-to-welcome-buhari-in-lafia/

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has reacted to statement credited to Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Force headquarters, Jimoh Moshood calling for his resignation.

The governor described Moshood’s statement as laughable, adding that IGP Ibrahim Idris is the drowning man who should resign.

Ortom spoke in a chat with newsmen at the Benue Peoples’ House, Makurdi on Tuesday.

He said: “As the chief security officer of Benue, I do not have the coercive powers to enforce the law, whereas the police and indeed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) who have the powers to enforce the law have failed in this regard.

“The Police high command should rather resign their appointments because they had failed in enforcing the law.

“It is the IGP that has failed to do the right thing that should be called a drowning man, it is the IGP that should resign.

“I am not a drowning man; I am doing what I was elected to do. Over 99 percent of Benue people are with me, I’m acting their script, so nobody should try to intimidate me.

“The IGP should resign because he has failed woefully. He doesn’t have the capacity.

“There are many good police officers who can take over that job and perform creditably by turning around the security architecture of this country and make things work and protect lives and property. That man has no business being the IGP.

“The IGP is the mouthpiece of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, he should resign his current position to serve full time in his new job.

Ortom further denied the police claim that the arrested militia members in his state are members of Benue Livestock Guards.

“Those people are not members of our Livestock Guard. It is just a planned thing.

“Fulani militia have come out in video to display the kind of weapons that they have and everyone has seen it; that is also not enough for the IGP to arrest these people.

“But he chose to declare that we have militia in Benue state. If we have militia in the state, will the herdsmen come and kill our people the way they did and are currently doing?

“It is because we are law-abiding. I think the people should have the right to defend themselves and not make themselves easy prey to be killed in their homes.

“So any lawful means you can adopt to defend yourself in Benue State, just go ahead. We are not going to wait for the inspector-general of police to do it because he has failed in his assignment.” Ortom added.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/the-igp-should-resign-because-he-has-failed-woefully-ortom-blasts-jimoh-moshood/

No fewer than 145 suspects have been arrested by the police over the recent killings in Benue State.

Of these suspects, 124 have been charged to court. The rest were said to be under investigation.

Sixteen suspects have been arrested in connection with the gruesome murder of seven persons believed to be Fulani in Gboko by some Tiv youths on January 31.

These are contained in the fact-sheet made available to the Senate Joint Committee, drawn from Police Affairs and Intelligence committees, by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris on Friday.

The report was made available to members of the joint committee which was raised for fact-finding.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/120-suspects-arrested-facing-trails-over-the-killings-in-benue/

A chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), in Delta State, Mr. Kennedy Eyube, has described the separate open letters written by former presidents, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), as a great opportunity for President Muhammadu Buhari to win the 2019 general election.

Eyube disclosed this in a statement in Warri yesterday through his media office.

He said Nigerians should not criticize or react negatively to the two former leaders, but consider their letters as a major factor that will boost the re-election of Buhari.

He said, “Both Chief Obasanjo and General Babangida ruled this country for eight years each or more. Their governments were not entirely perfect.

“Nigerians still have records of how they ruled this country, so, they should allow President Buhari to do his eight years after which Nigerians can also pass judgment on Buhari’s tenure.

“If Obasanjo and IBB couldn’t permanently solve the problems of Nigeria when they had the opportunity to do so while in power, the right thing for Obasanjo and IBB to do now is to support Buhari to repair this country and correct some of the mistakes made and things they left undone years ago.”

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/eyube-to-obasanjo-babangida-allow-buhari-to-rule-for-8-years-before-writing-letters/

The Nigeria Police has maintained its position on declaring a media aide to former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, Mr Kassim Afegbua wanted.

Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Jimoh Moshood, explained why the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, gave a directive regarding the speech emanating from Afegbua, when he appeared on Channels Television

“The Inspector General of Police has ordered his arrest for giving false statement, making injurious falsehood and equally defamation of character or an act which is inimical to law and order in the country,” he said

This started after Agegbua gave a statement credited to the former military leader on Buhari to step down in 2019

Babangida condernms the flow of blood in the country, and reacted to the voilene in some parts of the country that led several Nigerians to early graves.

fter the controversial statement went viral, Nigerians were confused when Babangida distanced himself from the statement where he maintained that it was solely the views expressed by his media aide.

But reacting, the police spokesman hinged his argument on Babangida’s denial of the statement that has since been generating mixed reactions.

To the police boss, the Force is yet to fully jump into conclusion on the matter. Rather, Afegbua has been declared wanted for him to explain his role in the reported perceived to be misleading.

He added, “We have not reached any conclusion because we have commenced an investigation into the matter and that is why he is wanted by the police to come and give explanation.

“There is no way we can conclude any investigation through the media, it is not done. And whatsoever Kassim said, let him come and tell us because we have opened up a case against him and he must come and provide answers to all the questions.”

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/police-reveals-why-they-declared-babagindas-spokesman-afegbua-wanted/

Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte, has insisted that player power will not get him sacked at Stamford Bridge.

Conte endured a second successive defeat in six days, after the Blues lost 4-1 at Watford on Monday night.

There have been reports that the Italian could lose his job even before the end of the season. But he has denied claims that his future could be decided by his players.

“It is very difficult for me to transfer my thoughts,” Conte told a post-match press conference.

“I hope tonight you understand me, I am not worried about my job. I work every day and give 100 per cent. I am not worried.

“Every day and every press conference I am asked, but no. Tomorrow is another day. My soul is clear and I go to sleep without the problem that maybe I could do this. I try to do everything. If this problem becomes of the club it is okay. Life goes on.

“Do you think that a club can decide to sack a coach if there is not the support of the players? I think only here, only here, you think this. You think that the players have this power? Yes? This is wrong. This is wrong. If this happens, okay.

“But, I repeat, in my life when I was a player, I was captain of Juventus and never, ever, did I speak about a coach with my club. And, if the club tried to ask me, this is not my problem.

“My task is to work with these players and to have honest players and they work with commitment. The problem is you try to create the problem. I do my job and I have zero issue to sleep.

“For sure, this is a difficult moment. If we want to find excuses, alibis, we can find everything. Tiredness, injuries… but this is not my way to face the situation, to solve the problem.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/chelsea-players-wont-get-me-sacked-antonio-conte/

The Benue State government has finally revealed the timeline of attacks on its people by suspected Fulani herdsmen between 2013 and 2017.

The state government said between 2013, when the bloodthirsty herders launched its first attack on its people in Agatu and 2017, several persons and valuables worth millions of naira have been lost.

Lawrence Onoja Jnr, Hon. Commissioner for Information and Orientation while speaking at a press conference in Makurdi, the Benue State capital said the Fulani herdsmen decided to declare war on people of the state because of the enactment of the anti-open grazing law.

TIMELINE OF ATTACKS ON BENUE STATE FROM 2013 – May 2017

1. February 2013 Fulani Attacked Agatu burning Inoli, Ologba, olegeje, olegogboche, olegede, Adana, Inminy and Abugbe communities. Many lives lost.

2. April 23 2013. 10 farmers killed in an attack on Mbasenge community in Guma LGA by suspected herdsmen.

3. May 7, 2013. 47 mourners gunned down in Agatu while burying two policemen killed the Tuesday before in Nassarawa.

4. May 14, 2013. Over 200 herdsmen surround Ekwo-Okpanchenyi, Agatu LGA killing 40 locals.

5. July 5, 2013. 20 people were killed in a “conflict” between Tiv farmers & herdsmen at Nzorov,Guma LGA, Benue state.

6. July 31 2013 herdsmen invade 2 villages in Agatu LGA killing 8 villagers allegedly in retaliation for the killing of 112 cows.

7. November 7, 2013. Attackers strike at Ikpele & Okpopolo communities killing 7 and displacing over 6000 inhabitants.

8. Nov 9, 2013. 36 locals killed and 7 villages overrun in an attack by herdsmen on locals in Agatu LGA.

9. Nov 20, 2013. Attack on communities in Guma LGA, killing 22 locals and destroying properties worth millions of naira.

10. Jan 20 2014. Gunmen attack Agatu LGA, killing 5 soldiers and 7 civilians.

11. Jan 20, 2014. Attack on Adeke village. 3 dead.

12. 20-21 Feb 2014. Herdsmen attack Gwer West LGA. 35 persons killed. 80,000 displaced. 6 Council Wards Sacked.

13. Feb 24, 2014. Attack on a Tiv community along Naka road, Makurdi, killing 8 people.

14. March 6, 2014. 30 killed in Kwande, Katsina/Ala and Logo LGAs by attackers dressed in military uniforms. 6 villages sacked.

15. March 12, 2014. Raid on Ukpam village of Mbabaai in Guma LGA. 28 persons killed. Yam barns and farms burnt.

16. March 10, 2014. Former Governor Suswam’s convoy attacked by herdsmen at Umenger. He and convoy manage an escape.

17. March 12, 2014. Herdsmen attack Suswam’s village in Logo LGA. 22 slaughtered. Entire village sacked.

18. March 23, 2014. 25 killed and over 50 injured by herdsmen said to be bearing sophisticated weapons in Gbajimba, Guma LGA.

19. March 25, 2014. Police recover 7 corpses following an attack on Agena village by Herdsmen.

20. March 29, 2014. Herdsmen attack 4 villages in Agatu LGA. 19 people killed, 15 others abducted.

21. March 29, 2014. Suspected use of chemical weapons on Shengev community in Gwer West LGA leaving 15 people dead.

22. March 30, 2014.19 locals killed and 15 abducted in Agatu LGA.

23. April 10, 2014. Over 100 herdsmen attacked 4 villages in Ukemberaga/Tswarev ward of Logo LG, 6 killed,Properties lost.

24. April 15, 2014. Attack on Obagaji, Headquarters of Agatu LGA, 12 youths killed.

25. September 10, 2014. Herdsmen attacked five villages in Ogbadibo LGA leaving scores dead.

26. January 27, 2015. 17 persons killed in attacks on Abugbe, Okoklo, Ogwule & Ocholoyan in Agatu LGA by herdsmen.

27. January 30, 2015. Over 100 attackers stormed 5 villages in Logo LGA, killing 9 persons in the attack.

28. March 15, 2015. Egba village in Agatu LGA sacked by herdsmen,over 90 locals, including women and children killed.

29. April 27, 2015. 28 persons killed by herdsmen in attack on 3 villages at Mbadwem, Guma LGA; houses and farmlands razed.

30. May 11, 2015. Ikyoawen community in Turan Kwande LGA invaded by herdsmen. 5 persons killed & 8 others wounded.

31. May 24, 2015. 100 killed in an attack by herdsmen in villages &refugee camps at Ukura, Gafa, Per and Tse-Gusa, Logo LGA.

32. July 7, 2015. 1 local killed and several others injured following an attack on mourners in Imande Bebeshi in Kwande LGA.

33. November 5, 2015. 12 persons killed, 25 others injured in Buruku LGA following an attack by suspected herdsmen.

34. Feb 8, 2016. 10 killed and over 300 displaced in clash between herdsmen and farmers at Tor-Anyiin and Tor-Ataan in Buruku LGA.

35. Feb 21-24, 2016. Over 500 locals killed and 7000 displaced in an attack on Agatu LGA by fulani herdsmen. Over 7 villages razed.

36. March 9, 2016. 8 residents killed by herdsmen in attacks on Ngorukgan, Tse Chia, Deghkia and Nhumbe in Logo LGA.

37. March 11, 2016. Attack on Convoy of Senator David Mark by suspected herdsmen in Agatu LGA. No casualty recorded.

38. March 13, 2016. 6 people including an APC youth leader killed by herdsmen in an attack on Tarka LGA.

39. February 29, 2016 11 killed in Edugbeho Agatu LG including a police inspector.

40. March 10, 2016 Two killed in attack on Obagaji Agatu.

41. March 5, 2016 Houses burnt in Agatu. Security forces prevented killings.

42. January 24, 2017: 15 persons were killed by rampaging Fulani herdsmen, who attacked farmers in Ipiga village in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State.

43. March 2, 2017: No fewer than 10 persons were killed in a renewed hostility between herdsmen and farmers in Mbahimin community, Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State.

44. March 11, 2017: Seven people were killed when herdsmen attacked a Tiv community, Mkgovur village in Buruku local government area of Benue State.

45. May 8: Three persons were confirmed killed by herdsmen in Tse-Akaa village, Ugondo Mbamar District of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

46. May 13, 2017: Less than one week after many people were killed by herdsmen in three communities of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, armed herders struck again on May 13 killing eight more people.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/benue-state-government-reveals-timeline-of-herdsmen-attacks/

Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister, on Monday berated President Muhammadu Buhari over his planned visit to Nasarawa State.

He wondered why Buhari should visit Nasarawa to express condolence to Fulani herdsmen and Miyetti Allah over the killing of their cattle.

In a tweet via his social media, he asked why the President has refused to visit Benue State despite the killings perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen.

He wrote...

“73 innocent and precious souls are slaughtered in Benue by Fulani herdsmen and Buhari refuses to visit the state to commiserate with its people.

“40 cows are butchered in Nassarawa and Buhari insists on going there to express his condolences to Fulani herdsmen and Miyetti Allah!”

Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State had on Friday said arrangements have been concluded for the visit of the President tomorrow.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/buhari-visiting-nasarawa-to-condole-with-miyetti-allah-over-loss-of-cattle-fani-kayode/

Aisha Yesufu, co-convener of Bring Back Our Girls has said that Miyetti Allah will not stop Nigerians from voting out President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

This is in reaction to a statement by the group warning Nigerians against removing Buhari in 2019.

The BBOG convener on Sunday further cautioned Nigerians against linking Muslims with Miyetti Allah, stressing that the group was not a Muslim organization.

Aisha also noted that the Fulani is not a religion but a tribe of Muslims, Christians and traditional worshippers.

She wrote: “Miyetti Allah is not a Muslim organisation. Fulani is not a religion it’s a tribe and they have Muslims, Christians traditional worshipers and atheist.

“We heard worse of Miyetti Allah’s threat in 2014 and it didn’t stop us from voting out an incompetent leader. This also would not stop us from voting out the incompetent President Muhammadu Buhari, Insha Allah.”

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/miyetti-allah-will-not-stop-nigerians-from-voting-out-incompetent-president-buhari-aisha/

Thirteen states have not paid their teachers some for as long as 28 months, Nigeria Union Teachers (NUT) revealed this.
Osun tops the list with 28 months followed by Nasarawa, 26, Kogi 25, Benue 12 and Ekiti nine months.

NUT President, Comrade Alogba Olukoya, revealed this at the union’s 2018 annual gathering. He said the union is compiling reports from across the states before embarking on the strike. He added that both primary and secondary school teachers are affected.

“When we get report on salary, if it is not encouraging we will embark on strike. The next is the state of decays in our schools’ laboratories and libraries,” he said.
Olukoya appealed to the states to pay or begin to see the wrath of the Nigerian teachers. He, however, said Benue state will be excused from the strike because of the security challenges affecting the state at the moment.

He said the union has received assurance from the state government that the outstanding salaries will be paid soon.
The union however, berated the action of Kaduna state government for sacking teachers and directive to stop deduction of check off dues for trade unions.

The number of teachers affected in the 13 states were said to be about 300,000. The NUT could not give the amount owed teachers saying it has no record of that at the moment.

Check out the list of the states and the month they are owing teachers below....

1: Osun State; 28 Months
2: Nasaraw State; 26 Months
3: Kogi State; 25 Months
4: Benue State; 12 Months
5: Ekiti State; 9 Months
6: Bayelsa State; 7 Months
7: Taraba State; 6 Months
8: Abia State; 5 Months
9: Kaduna State; 5 Months
10: Ondo State; 4 Months
11: Kwara State; 2 Months
12: Delta State; 2 Months
13: Oyo State; 1 Month

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/02/check-out-the-list-of-13-states-owing-teachers/

President Muhammadu Buhari has written a letter to the National Assembly stating that it was incorrect to to say that he had not done anything about the Benue killings.

Also the Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has directed the Senate Committee on Police and Intelligence to summon the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris Kpotun over the 2-week ultimatum issued by the Senate on the Benue Killings

Saraki, also reassured Senator Kabiru Marafa, that the upcoming Senate Security Summit will also look into the issue of kidnappings in Zamfara State. Buhari’s letter read by Senate President, on Wednesday said the police is working “strenuously” to apprehend those behind the attacks.

Read the letter below:

“I thank you for your letter referenced NASS/8S/R/01/33 dated 18th January 2018 and carefully studied the resolutions and comments there in. As I briefed you and the RT. Hon speaker when we met, several courses of action have been taken prior to the senate resolution,” the letter read.

“You may recall that I told you of the following steps taken as soon as the information came in to me about the Benue killings. One, on Thursday 4th January, I sent the minister of interior and the deputy inspector-general of police in charge of operations for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation. “Two, on Friday 5th January, the inspector-general of police briefed me verbally on the latest situation, calm had then been restored.

“Three, on Monday 8th, the minister of interior met with the following, governors of Adamawa, Kaduna, Niger, Benue Taraba and Nasarawa together with the DG of the State Security Services, inspector-general of police, CG civil defence, minister of agriculture and rural development and police commissioner of the six aforementioned states. “After the meeting instructed the minister of interior to brief you on the information gathered so far and steps taken. On Tuesday, 9th of January, at a session with governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state during which in informed of police arrests of some suspects.

In addition, I told him that have instructed to speed up trial of the suspects and give wide publicity of the police efforts. “At the instance of the governor, a meeting was held in the presidential villa on 15th with a wide cross-section of Benue personalities and frank and open discussions were held. Everybody appreciated the difficulties of this farmers-herders strife. I assured all of my commitment and assured justice would be done. “To infer therefore that nothing has been done, is incorrect.

The police are strenuously working to apprehend the rest of the culprits of these heartless killings. “Furthermore, I have instructed the IGP to relocate to Benue state and redeploy forces to the most sensitive towns. The federal government is initiating measures to address these and other security challenges, alleviate the consequence of these attacks and forestall reoccurrence.” The president said the resolutions of the senate on matter would be taken into consideration.

“On December 19 to be precise, while receiving the report of the committee that was set up to review the technical and administrative structure of the NIA, I underscored the need review the entire national security architecture as I promised in my inaugural address on the 29th May 2015, action is being initiated to receive maximum cooperation from the senate in line with paragraph three of the senate resolutions,” it read.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/01/president-buhari-writes-open-letter-to-nass-as-seraki-summons-igp-idris-over-benue-killings/