Benue indigenes release wish list, as Buhari visits tomorrow

March 11, 2018

AS President Muhammadu Buhari tomorrow visits Benue State to condole with the government and people of the state over incessant killings by herdsmen, widows and other victims of the killings have drawn up a number of demands and commitments from the president.

The release of the wish-list coincided with the rolling out by Governor Samuel Ortom of the programme of events for the visit.

Speaking with Sunday Tribune, victims and stakeholders in the state said they would most importantly want President Buhari “to heal the wounds” of the people of the state.

Chief Ode Enyi, who is the spokesperson for the state’s pan-socio-cultural group, comprising Mdgzou U Tiv, Idoma National Forum and Oyi’ Ngede, highlighted four major desires of the people of the state from Buhari.

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“We want restructuring, particularly, state police. Let him restore lasting peace and order, comply with the directive of the House of Representatives, which ordered the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to ensure that police enforce the Anti-open Grazing Law and to remember the state in the initiation of infrastructural projects,” he said.

He added that the state had been neglected by the Buhari administration since the advent of the government.

The president general Tiv Youth Organisation, Timothy Hembaor, in his own remark, described the visit as belated, despite ignoring all calls by the state government about the threat of Miyeiti Allah Kautal Hore to take over Benue Valley.

Hembaor said that their only wish was for the president to recognise the anti-open grazing law and to order for its full implementation.

For Madam Agber, a mother of three at Agaan IDP camp in Guma Local Government Area of the state, her concern was to return to her ancestral home, asking “if his coming will ensure our early return to our ancestral home by stopping the killings immediately.”

Mrs Atser, also in the same IDP camp, said: “My sincere desire is for the president to stop these killings in Benue. This is the first time my family is recording casualties. In 2014, I lost my husband and our house was burnt. We spent almost two months in the camp at Gbamjimba, headquarter of Guma local government.

My appeal is that Buhari should stop these killings. I heard he is the father [patron] of these herdsmen.”