Benue Killings, Herdsmen Not Responsible - Doyin Okupe

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Benue Killings, Herdsmen Not Responsible - Doyin Okupe

Doyin Okupe, a former aide to former president Goodluck Jonathan has absolved herdsmen of any wrong doing in the gruesome and countless killings going on in some parts of the country.

Okupe, in a Facebook post declared that the terrorist group, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), are responsible for the killings in Nigeria.

He also revealed that arming of local vigilante and backing of the police or Army is the only solution to end the killings.

Okupe wrote, “For God’s sake, Benue killings not by herdsmen. These are ISIS terrorists.

“Armed local vigilante backed by police or army is the solution.

Recall that Rev Fathers Gor Joseph and Felix were on Tuesday killed after suspected herdsmen attacked the village.

Again, no fewer than 20 persons were reportedly killed and several persons declared missing after herdsmen attacked Tse Agudu in Mbawa Council Ward, Guma LGA Area of Benue State.

                                                  

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Benue Herdsmen Killings: Nigerian Slam Buhari, APC, Nigerian Police

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Benue Herdsmen Killings: Nigerian Slam Buhari, APC, Nigerian Police

Nigerians have called out President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigeria Police over the continuous killings in Benue state.

Recall that Rev Fathers Gor Joseph and Felix were on Tuesday killed after suspected herdsmen attacked Ayar Mbalom village in Gwer East local Government Area of Benue State.

Again, no fewer than 20 persons were on Wednesday reportedly killed and several persons declared missing after herdsmen attacked Tse Agudu in Mbawa Council Ward, Guma LGA Area of Benue State.

Buhari in response had on Tuesday described the killings of the Catholic priests as a plot to stoke up religious conflict and plunge communities in the country into endless bloodletting.

However, some Nigerians in reaction to the killings took to social media expressing their grief over the incapability of Buhari’s government to act swiftly rather than issue condolence statements.

Here are some comments on Twitter:

@Jackdre02 “People, human beings are dying like rats in Benue and parts of the north, but we are quiet, we used to have one united voice of outrage pre-2015, a lot of people’s empathy died after the elections and only a few of us are now left expressing outrage on these killings.”

@Dipoawojide “Over 1, 000 Nigerians have been killed in the Middle Belt in the last one year and Buhari went to London to say he has done excellently security-wise. What has he done? Every single life matters. This is failure of governance.”

@Bayulivelife “APC was never a genuine empathy, it was all propaganda. They never loved us, it was all for the money.” “Hardly does a day pass without a horror tale of these Fulani herdsmen killings.They keep on telling us it’s herders/farmers crisis. So church too has now turn to Farms right.”

@Ademyiwa “All those Policemen wasting time and efforts stopping the #BringBackOurGirls sit-outs should be in Benue and other places where people no longer sleep with their two eyes closed. Ceteris paribus.”

@Simebricks “With all due respect Mr. President,dz assurances of urs has become a cliche. Until one of ur own is a victim, all u pledge is lip service.

@Benuetivboy “Benue is a killing field. @MBuhari you promised to keep us safe. Did you lie or is the situation more than you can handle? You are failing the people everyday.”

@Ogbenidipo “Please pay attention to the killings in Benue. This is more important than anything happening to Dino right now.”The senseless killings haven’t stopped. The Federal Government has failed.”

@Hoolarlah “I struggle to understand exactly what buhari and his government want to achieve by allowing this crisis escalate further.I just can’t reconcile how we allowed such a man become president in the first place.”

@NNamdi0gbogbo “Benue killings has turned political. The security apparatuses has to look beyond their present scope.”

@donfelix2 “Police and other security agencies can use all the resources to go after @OfficialAPCN enemies but cannot pull those same resources to stop the maiming and senseless killings in Zamfara, Benue, Taraba.”

@Oladayoferguson “We don’t need words, actions speaks better. What a president !! Worthy of note is that he was a general. A retired general who is fathomless and devoid of solutions to ethnic and senseless killings. You have failed Mr President. You have !!

@Rebroadcast02 “This is ethnic cleansing in other to Islamise this nation, firstly is to gain territory and boundaries which is what they’re doing now, don’t misunderstand it Buhari know what he’s doing, it’s a shame a President that meant ro protect people is fighting jihad against his people.”

@Kelvinodanz ” Million defenseless Nigerians will die in Benue, Zamfara, Kaduna, Taraba and it won’t even move Buhari.” Buhari is preoccupied with defeating PDP, Dino Melaye and other Saraki Allies. Those are the real enemies of Nigeria, not herdsmen and Militia groups.”

                                                  

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Atiku Speaks On The Murder Of Rev. Fathers, Parishioners In Benue

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Atiku Speaks On The Murder Of Rev. Fathers, Parishioners In Benue

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the killing of two Reverend Fathers and 19 others in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State by suspected herdsmen.

The Rev Fathers, Gor Joseph and Felix were on Tuesday killed after suspected herdsmen attacked the village.

Reacting, Atiku on his Twitter page offered his condolences to Catholic dioceses in Benue, describing the killings as heartbreaking.

He wrote “It was heart-rending to hear about the invasion and killing of worshippers in Benue State today. My condolences to Catholic dioceses of Benue State. May the deceased rest.”

Buhari had on Tuesday described the killings of the Catholic priests as a plot to stoke up religious conflict and plunge communities in the country into endless bloodletting.

                                                  

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Fayose Slams Buhari Over Murdering Of Rev. Fathers, Parishioners In Benue

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Fayose Slams Buhari Over Murdering Of Rev. Fathers, Parishioners In Benue

Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, has attacked President Muhammadu Buhari over the killing of two Reverend Fathers and 19 others in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State by suspected herdsmen.

Rev Fathers, Gor Joseph and Felix were on Tuesday killed after suspected herdsmen attacked the village.

Fayose, writing on his Twitter page, wondered why Buhari was silent over the ”seeming ethnic cleansing in Benue and other middle-belt States.”

He wrote ”A government that is not concerned about the killing of 18 Catholic worshipers, including two priests but running after perceived political opponents will surely come to an inglorious end one day.

”It is alarming and curious that Father Joseph Gor, one of the Catholic Priests that were murdered in Benue State yesterday, raised alarm on January 3, 2018, through his Facebook account on the occupation of Mbalom community by herdsmen. Yet, the priest was killed!

”Why is the FG allowing this seeming ethnic cleansing in Benue and other middle-belt States, such that President Buhari and the entire members of his government do not see the wanton killings as anything to be worried about?

”When did Nigeria degenerate to the level that people can no longer worship peacefully in their churches or go to their farms? When did Nigeria become a state of anomie where people are killed even after raising alarm that there was threat to their existence?

”In all these, Nigerians should remember that I warned that a tyrant will forever be a tyrant.”

                                                  

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Benue State Acting Gov, Abounu Laments Benue Is Under Siege By Insurgents

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Benue State Acting Gov, Abounu Laments Benue Is Under Siege By Insurgents

The Acting Governor of Benue State, Engr. Benson Abounu, has declared that the state is currently under siege by insurgents.

Engr Abounu, who spoke yesterday after an emergency security meeting at his office, said Benue was at the moment under attack from all corners as insurgents had invaded the state, picking their targets at will and spilling blood everywhere.

The meeting followed Tuesday early morning attack by bandits, suspected to be herdsmen on Ayar Mbalom, Gwer West local government area and the killing of 19 persons, including two Catholic priests, who were officiating the morning mass at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Gwer East.

The Acting Governor, who described the day as a dark one for Benue state and its people, said, “The attack was a calculated one; well planned and well executed by the bandits who first attacked the church, killed the priests, a catechist and some parishioners, then went to a venue of a burial ceremony and killed some of the mourners.”

He said the attack on the church was a new dimension to the farmers/herdsmen crisis and one that needs a determined and appropriate response from the federal government and the security agencies the way insurgency in the North East is being tackled, adding that what they are experiencing today is insurgency.

The Acting Governor, who stated that the bandits, who numbered about 30 might still be lurking around the bushes directed the security agents to pursue them, flush them out of the area and get them apprehended so that they can be investigated to know the root causes of the killings.

He disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, who has visited the area himself, has deployed his men to the area, the same thing as the Commander of the 72 Special Forces battalion who has also dispatched soldiers there.

While appealing for calm, he called on people of the state to be extra vigilant and to report any suspicious movement to the security agencies.

                                                  

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Benue Killings: Osinbajo Reacts To The Murder Of Rev Fathers, Others

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Benue Killings: Osinbajo Reacts To The Murder Of Rev Fathers, Others

The Federal Government has vowed to deal with those attacking and killing worshippers in churches and mosques across the country.

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, those who are hell bent on making the nation ungovernable would soon face the wrath of law.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Tuesday at the inauguration of the Headquarters building and auditorium of the Deeper Life Bible Church in Gbagada, Lagos.

According to the Vice President, “It is not only a heinous sacrilege but high wickedness to kill persons in a place of worship. It is evident that the devil’s bigger agenda is to stoke up a religious conflict in Nigeria, one such as will make it impossible for anyone to preach the gospel or even for Muslims to worship in their mosques.”

“Citing examples of the recent attacks on worship places in Borno and Benue states, Prof. Osinbajo said the Federal Government was working on arresting the situation and urged all Nigerians to be calm and remain focused on the teachings of their faith.”

He added that “while the security agencies continue to work relentlessly to hunt down the perpetrators of these evil acts, we all must not lose focus.”

“The President has mandated that I take up those cases with the specific State and local authorities, the right to freedom of worship is also the right to build places of worship.

“While the security agencies continue to work relentlessly to hunt down the perpetrators of these evil acts and to bring a permanent end to all of the killings going on in the name of herdsmen, Boko Haram, or in any other name, we as a body of Christ must not lose focus.

“The enemy wants us to stand on our pulpits and preach hate, we will not. We will obey the Lord Jesus Christ who said that we must love our enemies and pray even for those who persecute us. No person born or yet to be born, can stop the march of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed as the Word of God says, this Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

                                                  

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Herdsmen Killings: Muslim Group Condemns The Murder Of Rev Fathers, Parishioners In Benue

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Herdsmen Killings: Muslim Group Condemns The Murder Of Rev Fathers, Parishioners In Benue

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has in strong terms condemned the attack on St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Ayar-Mbalom in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State, yesterday, which led to the death of 19 persons, including two Catholic priests, Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha.

The group, while condemning the wanton waste of human lives, described the attack as wicked, repulsive and barbaric.

Herdsmen in two separate attacks in Guma and Gwer East on Tuesday butchered no fewer than 50 persons and set over 70 houses on fire.

Professor Ishaq Akintola, Director, MURIC, in a statement issued yesterday called for the arrest of those behind the dastard act.

He said life was sacred and that only Allah the Supreme Creator has the right to freely take what He gave, stressing that, “Therefore, killing for vengeance, religious or ethnic reason is not only primitive but also sinful.”

Akintola said, “Although the attackers also burnt 50 houses and sacked the entire community, we are singling out the vicious attack on the church for strong condemnation. Those who attack the house of God have no single atom of piety in their hearts. They should therefore not expect mercy from Allah, the Supreme Creator. They seek to set different ethnic groups and religions at one another’s throats. But they will fail by the Grace of Allah.

“We are constrained to observe that most of the killings around the Middle Belt area are ignited by hate speech. We therefore appeal to Nigerians to exercise caution in their utterances, to respect human life, tolerate and forgive one another. Every peaceful community is a round hole whereas vengeance is a square peg. It is therefore an alien instrument designed to cause commotion.

“We charge the Inspector General of Police to bring the killers of the worshippers in St. Ignatius Catholic Church to book. We implore the Federal Government to do everything possible to stop the carnage in the country, particularly in Benue and Taraba.”

                                                  

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Herdsmen Killings: Gov. Ortom Orders IDPs, Go Home, Defend Yourselves With Stones

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Herdsmen Killings: Gov. Ortom Orders IDPs, Go Home, Defend Yourselves With Stones

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Tuesday told the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, to go home and use stones to defend themselves.

Ortom explained that he was tired of keeping IDPs in camps over the uncontrollable killings in the state.

He, therefore, charged residents to embrace self-defence.

The governor said this during his visit to the displaced persons after armed herdsmen attacked Naka, Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.

This was after the Chairman, Gwer West Local Government Council of Chiefs, Chief Daniel Abomtse said that 24 persons were killed on Thursday’s attack on Mbapa, Mbapupuu, Mbachohon, and Enger, all in Agagbe District in Gwer-West LGA.

He said, “David in the Bible used ordinary stone to defeat his enemy, it is now time for you to stay at home and use the stone in your homes to defend yourself instead of running away.

“I believe in the rule of law, equity and fairness, but I cannot continue to keep IDPs and l can’t afford to have another IDPs in Gwer West. This must stop. We must stop truncating the future of our younger generation.

“When we allow laws to be violated and nobody takes action, it then allows for impunity and when you give room to impunity, it will result to anarchy which will in turn breed a lawless society.

“Therefore, we the citizens must rise up to support the security agencies by way of providing lawful and necessary logistics such as information, equipment and financial support to back up their operations.

“Just yesterday (Monday), a soldier was killed in Guma, security agents are not spared. Security challenges are enormous. The gruesome murder of 24 people by Fulani herdsmen is quite condemnable.

“Time has come if you are willing to live in Benue State, you must be ready and willing to be law abiding.”

The governor added that the state government was working with traditional rulers and other necessary organs of government to strengthen the vigilante team so as to give it full legal backing that would enable the group assist the security personnel in curbing criminal activities in the state.

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Buhari's Words To IGP After Flouting His Order

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Buhari's Words To IGP After Flouting His Order

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday summoned the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris over his disobedience to his directive to relocate to Benue.

This was disclosed in a statement via the presidency’s twitter handle.

Buhari asked IGP Idris to provide a comprehensive report on police operations in the affected States, after which further decisions would be taken.

The statement read “Pres @MBuhari today summoned the Inspector-General of Police to explain his flouting of the presidential order to remain in Benue State.

“The President has also asked for a comprehensive report on Police Operations in the affected States,after which further decisions will be made.

“We would like to restate our determination to ensure that the attacks and killings are brought to an end, and perpetrators to justice.

“President @MBuhari’s Visit to the affected States continues, following the Trips to Taraba and Benue. Next are Yobe, Zamfara and Rivers States.”

It would be recalled that Buhari during a visit to Benue on Monday said he was unaware the IGP failed to heed his order. 

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Herdsmen Attacks: Umahi Fears The Worst For Nigeria

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Herdsmen Attacks: Umahi Fears The Worst For Nigeria

The chairman of the South-East governors’ forum, Chief David Umahi on Tuesday said that the incessant killings in Nigeria by herdsmen, if not properly addressed, may spark-off war.

Umahi, who is the governor of Ebonyi state made this known during an enlarged security meeting that involved all the security chiefs in the state, national leaders of Myetti Allah, leaders of Hausa community/herdsmen in the state, among other stakeholders, which took place at the exco-chambers, government house Abakaliki.

Umahi was reacting to the recent herdsmen/villagers clash in Enyanwu Igwe, Igbeagu community of Izzi local government which left four persons dead, with two others in critical condition.

Umahi who described the killings in Enyanwu Igwe village as unprovoked, ordered herdsmen around the area to vacate the place until he calmed the embittered villagers down to avoid reprisal attack.

”It is unprovoked killings, life is so sacred. You can’t kill people as if they are fowls. Izzi people are warriors, I physically held them not to go for retaliation. The herdsmen there in Izzi have to leave the place for now until I can calm everybody down. The way we are going, it can provoke national war and it will not help anybody. If there is reprisal attack, I will hold all the leaders squarely responsible, I will charge all of you for any reprisal attack.

”The lives of every Ebonyian is very dear to me. God forbid, I can’t withstand where 76 people were killed like in Benue, I can’t withstand it. Some people may be fighting to die but we fight to live, let’s use wisdom and handle the matter.

“This is a National problem; we don’t want our people to continue to be killed. We must use wisdom to handle this problem. It is very easy to say I want all the herdsmen to leave Ebonyi but there are lots of implication”, he said.

He regretted that agreement reached between the state and herdsmen in the area for peaceful co-existence have been destroyed.

“We banned underage herders, we banned night grazing in the state. We have no grazing routes in Ebonyi which means that nobody has the right to carry cattle by route to Ebonyi state and we agreed on that.

“We also agreed with the herdsmen that the first offender must be prosecuted. We also said that no farmer should go to farm with gun and no herdsmen should rear cattle with gun or matchete, it is stick. We must abide by these rules”, he said.

Responding, the National Chairman of Myetti Allah, Bello Bodejo corroborated the Governor that incessant killings in the country could cause chaos in the country.

He said the state had been very accommodating to the herdsmen, warning that it should not be abused.

“Ebonyi state is very peaceful and it is accommodating to our members. It has been so accommodating to our members even more than some Northern states of the federation and we condemn these killings in this state.

“There are minors and migrants who are causing these lots of problems. There are also criminals moving as cattle herders who are causing these havocs. The Chairman of Myetti Allah of various states in the south east and south are all here and we are not happy with what happened, we condemn these killings in totality.

“Nigeria is confronted with so many security challenges and one of them is the unfortunate farmer/herder conflict. If this conflict is not resolved, it has the potential of throwing this country into unnecessary chaos”, he said.

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Benue Elders List Their Expectations From Buhari Ahead Of His Visit Today

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Benue Elders List Their Expectations From Buhari Ahead Of His Visit Today

 

Benue elders have revealed their expectations from President Muhammadu Buhari as he prepares to visit the state on Monday.

Benue is one of the states the President had planned to visit following continued attacks and killing of innocent Nigerians in the state.

Chairman of the ethnic leaders of the state and President General of Mdzough U Tiv, Chief Edward Ujege, who spoke with Vanguard,
said that the people of the state expect a decisive statement and action from the President to end the killings.

He said, “What we expect is for him to accept the anti open grazing law of Benue State and also direct the Inspector General of Police, IGP, to implement it so that we have peace in Benue State.

“We also want them to stop the unnecessary attacks on Governor Ortom, especially the IGP and the government apparatus because it is not a good sign at all.

“And he (the President) should stop the killings in Benue because as President of the country, it is within his powers to do so.”

Also speaking on the expected visit, Team Leader of the Global Amnesty Watch Foundation, Terrence Kuanum said an end to the killings in Benue should be paramount to the President.

Kuanum said, “We expect him to listen to the voice of reason and act as a leader, taking decisive actions to arrest the leadership of Miyetti Allah kautal Hore, who were allegedly fingered in the killings in Benue having threatened to resist the Open Grazing Prohibition Law of the state which came into effect on November 1.

“He should without delay, declare that group a terrorist organisation; it is only that declaration that can bring the killings to an end.

“So long as the leaders of the Miyetti Allah group are free, these killings will continue because they are the sponsors of the mercenaries and if the security personnel keep arresting mercenaries and leaving the sponsors, more mercenaries will be hired to kill innocent people. So, the President needs to offer leadership and be decisive so that these killings will end just like what he did with Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB.”

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Benue Killings: Former Senate President, Mark, Speaks On The Killings In Benue State, Says Its Frustrating

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Benue Killings: Former Senate President, Mark, Speaks On The Killings In Benue State, Says Its Frustrating

 

Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, has reacted to the killing of about 26 natives of Omusu community in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State by assailants believed to be herdsmen.

In a statement, yesterday, by his Media Assistant, Paul Mumeh, Mark described as sad and frustrating, the killings in parts of Benue State despite repeated peace moves between the residents and the herdsmen in the state.

He condemned the unwarranted killings of innocent citizens, pointing out that the crisis was degenerating to something akin to “war without end,” defying all peaceful approaches.

He said: “I’m aware of various peace initiatives over the incessant clashes resulting to loss of lives and property. That the killings continue unabated is something beyond the ordinary.

“Let me once again appealed to the assailants to sheathe their swords and allow peace to reign. Whichever side of the divide and whatever vocation you are engaged in, no progress can be made in a crisis-ridden environment.”

Mark, who bemoaned the degenerating cases of insecurity in the land, said, “From abduction of innocent school girls in Dapchi, numerous cases of kidnapping to outright terrorism against unsuspecting citizens, the situation is frustrating.

“We must all make concerted efforts to achieve peace in our communities. Our security agencies should rise up to the challenges and protect lives and property. Life is sacred and we must not take it for granted.”

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Benue Killings: Group Accuse Military Of Aiding Fulani Herdsmen

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Benue Killings: Group Accuse Military Of Aiding Fulani Herdsmen

The Independent Human Rights and Crime Monitoring Group, IHRCMG, has accused the military of encouraging the influx of cattle into Benue State.

The group said the military was aiding the herders to take over Benue communities by violating the Open Grazing Prohibition Law of the state.

Reeling out preliminary report on execution of Exercise Ayem A’ Kpatuma to end herdsmen incursions in Benue State, yesterday, in Makurdi, team leader of IHRCMG, Mr Solomon Adodo, regretted that the state had witnessed more killings, destruction of farmlands and houses despite the coming of the military.

According to the group, “Exercise Ayem A’ Kpatum is causing more harm than good to Benue communities. Rather than bringing peace and move people back to their ancestral homes, the military has been encouraging more herdsmen to move into Benue communities.

“The military encouraged herdsmen with a handbill, which they used at the launch of the exercise. They circulated the handbill misinforming the general public and giving a perspective that was not true.

“And Federal Government appears to be complicit in the Benue killings in all ramifications, the actions taken so far by the government does not show any political will to end the killings.

“We, therefore, recommend that the military should reassess its operations and sincerely help Benue to enforce the Open Grazing Prohibition Law of 2017.”

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Benue Killings: Police Confirms 25 Dead In A Fresh Attack By Armed Fulani Herdsmen

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Benue Killings: Police Confirms 25 Dead In A Fresh Attack By Armed Fulani Herdsmen

 

The Police in Benue State have confirmed 25 people killed in the aftermath of attack on Omusu village in Edumoga community of Okpokpwu Local Government Area of the state.

State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, spoke to newsmen on Wednesday in Makurdi.

Owoseni explained that aside from the 24 people killed in the Idoma speaking Omusu village, a herder was also killed while another was missing.

He said four persons were under interrogation in connection with the killings.

Narrating the incident, he said some youths in Okpokwu had engaged some herdsmen in a fight.

Owosen explained that the fracas led to killing of some cows while two herdsmen were found missing.

According to him, a peace meeting was immediately initiated with the Chairman of Okpopkwu LGA, leaders of the Fulani community in the area, father of the two missing herders as well as the police.

The police commissioner revealed that while talking to their kinsmen which led to the attack on the rural Omusu village.

Owoseni who said four houses were burnt during the attack.

“The command would fish out the perpetrators by bringing them to justice and ensuring that they face the wrath of the law”, he vowed.

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