Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Tuesday accused the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a group of Fulani cattle breeders in the country, for the gruesome killings of innocent souls in the state.
The governor spoke on Tuesday after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.
“I had to brief him, he is also doing further investigation to know the next line of action. I believe that my request that the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, who had earlier threatened and I accused them directly, since June last year, I have been writing to the leadership of security agencies, that these people are a threat to our collective interest and they must be dealt with,” the governor told journalists after the meeting.
“They must be arrested and prosecuted because we cannot allow impunity to continue to thrive. And of course threat and no action has resulted in this killing and I think that Mr. President will also do the needful to ensure something is done.”
His comments come amidst reports of continued attacks in the state. On Monday, two policemen were killed by herdsmen who had earlier exchanged gunfire with the police, Mr. Ortom said.
He said the officers were “slaughtered like goats” in Logo local government area, one of two areas at the centre of the crisis, while another officer was left badly injured.
“And it is taking a different dimension. Just yesterday (Monday) in Logo local government, mobile policemen that were deployed to Logo to keep vigil to protect the people and the land; these militia came, exchanged fire with them, caught two of them and slaughtered them like goats — mobile policemen!” he said.
“They shot another one, ‘machete’ him and left him in the pool of his blood but luckily he did not die. We have taken him to the hospital, we are treating him, the other one that was declared missing was found today (Tuesday).”
However, the presidency on Tuesday insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari does not have a hand in the killings.
