- say killings have continued
By Damilola Oyedele
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.”
