Flood: Benue traditional rulers vow to evoke gods against diversion of relief materials

TRADITIONAL rulers in Benue State led by its chairman, Tor Tiv, Professor James Ayatse, yesterday visited the refugees camp at International Market, Makurdi where the vow to evoke gods against anyone who might divert the relief materials meant for the flood victims.

Professor Ayatse gave the warning when the traditional rulers donated 120 bags of rice to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp.

The paramount ruler called on the officials responsible for the distribution of the relief materials to ensure that they are distributed equitably to the affected people across the 21 LGAs of the state.

He noted that, ‘it has come to the knowledge of the traditional rulers that the real people who are actually affected by the flood are been denied of the relief materials, saying the council have resolved to invoke the gods against anyone that divert relief materials meant for the victims in the camps.’

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”As traditional rulers, we represnt the ascentors of our lands and we are not happy with the calamity that had befallen the state even though it is a natural disaster.

“Therefore, we want to warn that every thing that comes to the camp must be distributed fairly to the affected persons. Failure to do so, or an attempt by anyone to divert those things, we shall swiftly evoke the gods against such person(s)”, prof Stated.

While sympathizing with the victims, Tor Tiv said that the traditional rulers in the state also feel their pains and stated that they had come to visit them as he prayed that God should stop such disaster in the state.

According to him, ‘as fathers, we may not have power to give much to you but all the children belong to us and we will continue to remind the children to come and donate to you so as to enable you go back to your normal homes. The relief materials have come and it will continue to come and it will go to the 21 LGAs affected by the flood’.

HRM, Professor Ayatse commended federal government for its immediate response to the plight of the flood victims and for bringing relief materials to the IDPs and also accepting to dredge the River Benue in order to avert future occurrence in the state.

The traditional rulers also appreciated the state governor, Samuel Ortom, for the attention given to the victims.

Speaking in the same vein, the Vice Chairman of the State Council of Chiefs and Paramount ruler of Idoma kingdom, HRM, Elias Obekpa, regretted the disaster that has befallen the state and prayed to God to avert future occurence.

The Och’Idoma who was represented by the Odejor K’Apa, Chief John Ateyi, called on federal government to address issues confronting the state with a view to making life more meaning for the people.