Protests in Benue over Killing of Farmers in Guma and Logo LGA
Bridget Ikyado: Residents in Makurdi have trooped out in their thousands to protest against the January 2, herdsmen’s attack on farmers in which 20 people were killed.
The protesters are calling on the presidency to bring the culprits to book.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “Presidential Intervention needed”, “Why value cows to Humans”, and “Stop this incessant bloodbath”.
Some of them chanted, “We will not vote for the present administration again both the State and Federal level if these crises don’t stop”.
The News Agency of Nigeria( NAN) reports that the protests involved mostly youths who barricaded major roads leading in and out of Makurdi, the state capital.
The youth have vowed not to leave the streets until the presidency spoke on the killings.
They were also asking the government to intervene in the series of other attacks on some rural communities by armed herdsmen.
Mr Terhemen Anum, told NAN on Wednesday that residents of Guma and Logo local government areas have yet to determine the number of peasant farmers, women, children and the aged inclusive that were killed.
Also, Mrs Ruth Agba said the killing of Benue farmers and destruction to their homes and farms were not different from Boko Haram activities in the northeast.
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue told journalists on Tuesday that 20 people were killed in the mayhem.
Ortom called on the Federal Government to wade into the matter so as to avert further destruction of lives and property.
Meanwhile, the Police in Benue has confirmed the arrest of eight herdsmen in connection with the New Year Day’s attacks in Guma and Logo Local Governments.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Moses Yamu, said on Wednesday in Makurdi, “eight herdsmen, six in Guma and two in Logo, have been arrested in connection with the attacks”.
He added that the command had made additional deployments to the troubled area to forestall further occurrence and restore the confidence of the people.
Yamu stressed the situation in the two local government areas had been brought under control while an investigation was on-going.
