Benue: Group calls on residents to cooperate with military to end crisis

A group, Gender Advocacy for Justice Initiative have called on Benue residents to cooperate with the Nigerian Army to end the continued attacks by the killer herdsmen in the state.

In a statement signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the group, Cliff Gai and Tersoo Agera and made available to Nigerian Tribune, the group also urged the Nigerian army to exhibit a high sense of neutrality and responsibility in discharging their duties in the state.

According to the group in its recommendations, “there is an urgent need for critical consideration of the security situation in Benue State and the implication this poses on democracy and development in our country Nigeria.

“The group welcomes the deployment of the Army under exercise Cat Race and is hopeful that this will facilitate the immediate return of internally displaced persons to their ancestral homes.

“The group calls on the citizens of the State to cooperate with the operators of the Cat Race Exercise and recommends that the Army should exhibit a high sense of neutrality and responsibility as well as respect the rules of engagement”.

The group also called on Civil Society Organizations to step up their commitment to defending the rights of the generality of the Nigerian citizenry.

Furthermore, the group said “we invite the United Nations and other international agencies to support the process of reconstruction and rehabilitation in Benue State.

“We demand that security agencies and INEC should ensure that displaced people have the opportunity to register and also vote in the upcoming elections.

“We call on government and other responsible organizations to relocate the displaced populations taking up shelter in schools and consequently causing secondary displacement of school children”.