Benue youths protest herdsmen killings

Thousands of youths made a violent protest in Makurdi, Benue State capital on Wednesday over the killings in Guma and Logo local governments areas of the state on Tuesday.

Suspected Fulani herdsmen had attacked six communities in the two council areas for two days leading to the death of over 50 persons.

The youths who thronged the major highways within the capital city blocked the Lafia Makurdi Highway, the Otukpo road, and the  Old Bridge Road while many of them gathered at the popular Wurukum roundabouts which disrupted vehicular movement for hours.

The protesters also defiled the tear gas being thrown at them by security operatives and also nearly mobbed the state governor, Samuel Ortom who had to break away from the security council meeting to calm the frayed nerves.

Security operatives had to whisk away the governor into a waiting vehicle when the situation became tense.

One of the youths who identified himself as Bem Titus Terna, President National Association of Ihiarev Youths decried the killings by the herders and noted that President Buhari had not made any statement on the senseless killings.

He explained that they were ready to continue with the protest for seven days until the Federal Government shows concern for the plight of the people of the state.

“The Federal government is not doing anything to address this situation. In fact, it is conspiring against the state to allow this carnage to continue. The president is adamant over the issue. We will continue to stage this protest for seven days. We want the entire world and the international community to come to our aid.”

Governor  Ortom who later spoke to newsmen at the Government House noted that he understood the pain of the youths but called for calm and urged the people to go about their lawful business without fear as he had already asked for an additional deployment of security operatives in Makurdi and other local government areas of the state.

He said it was too early to declare curfew maintained that his government and the security agencies were on top of the situation and urged everyone to remain calm.

“We have asked for additional deployment of security in Makurdi and placed other local government areas on red alert. No curfew for now as it would mean more hardship for people traveling to their base. People should be careful. There should be no protest of any kind for now and if you must protest, you must get permission from the police,” the governor said.

“I understand the anger of the people even and their governor. I understand their pain. All. All I can say to the youths is that they should remain calm. In situations like this, we cannot think of reprisal or anger to be a solution to the harm that had been caused. I have reported this to the president and security agencies and they are working towards it. ”

“I have reiterated my call on the federal government to arrest the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore (MAKH) because they have openly said they would resist the prohibition of open grazing law which was an initiative of the Benue people. There is no other alternative to ranching.

“But I think the right thing to do is for the federal government to arrest the leadership of MAKH or else, they are telling us that we are not part of Nigeria. Their threats have become a reality and they are living in Abuja with the Federal government. If FG does not arrest them, then they are throwing us into a state of anarchy. We assure the people of the state that we feel their pains and we assure that justice will take its course. No going back on the law, he concluded.”