The two major political parties in Benue State, the ruling All Progressive Congress and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, have called on the state governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, to live up to his constitutional roles and protect the lives and property of the people of the state.
In separate statements issued and made available to journalists in Makurdi on Saturday, the governor and the people of the state condoled the loss of lives brought about by insecurity in the state.
No fewer than 56 people were killed during the week in Ukum and Gwer-East LGAs of the state as a result of rival militia groups clashing and suspected armed herders attacks.
Over 40 people were reportedly killed during a clash between rival militia groups last Tuesday in Ukum LGA, and another 16 people were murdered on Thursday night in Gwer East LGA.
In the condolence message by the opposition PDP signed by the party publicity secretary in the state, Bemgba Iortyom condemned what it described as ‘barbaric acts’, saying the attacks were unprovoked.
Iortyom said that the party disagreed with the submission of the governor that ‘the callous and criminal acts are the result of the rustling of cattle belonging to Fulani herdsmen by some locals, which provoked the attacks’.
The statement read in parts, “Governor Alia’s view is faulty to the extent that it ignores the original crime of the violation of the Prohibition of Open Grazing and Ranch Establishment Law by the herders, which renders their presence in the state and all of their actions thereto as willfully criminal.
“The Benue State Governor, therefore, misses the point completely by seeking to shift the blame from the criminals to the victims, even as by so doing he cuts the worrisome impression of one lacking in both the will and nous to uphold his oath to protect the people from the killer herdsmen and other criminals.
The party called on the governor to confront the monster of the continuing herdsmen killings and the despoilation of Benue under his watch.
It also advised the governor to enlist the support of members of the National Assembly from the state instead of what the party perceived as ‘needless and distracting altercations with them.
“He should also invest the monthly security vote available to his office to provide much-needed logistical and equipment support to security agencies in the state, including the Benue State Livestock Guards, which is the enforcement arm of the open grazing ban, so as to strengthen their hand in the fight against the terrorists,” the PDP said in the statement.
In the same vein, the ruling APC’s statement by its state publicity secretary, Daniel Ihomun, extended her deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and urged them to be consoled over their loss in the hope that justice would be served.
“The party urges them to remain calm and law-abiding amidst their sorrows and pains.
“We call on the Governor Hyacinth Alia-led government to live up to its expectations in safeguarding the lives and property of Benue citizens by bringing an end to these killings that have bedevilled the state and stop acting helplessly while innocent lives get wasted.
“We call for practical implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranch Establishment Law enacted to bring sanity to cattle business in the state and protect the lives and property of the people of Benue State,” the statement read in parts.
The party also called on security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of the acts are apprehended to face the wrath of the law of the state.
The party also condemned the narrative that herdsmen were invited into the state via a letter by indigenes of the state.
