Various Benue stakeholders, including serving and former elected leaders, elder statesmen and leaders of ethnic nationalities in the state held a stakeholders meeting at the government house in Makurdi. The stakeholders unanimously mandated the state government to cut socio-political alignment with the north and revive the old middle-belt or seek alignment with the south if the killings by herdsmen does not stop.
The stakeholders expressed their displeasure at president Buhari whom they said is yet to visit the state since the killings started. They also said that it took Northern governors three weeks to visit the state after 73 people were killed.
Governor Samuel Ortom in his opening remark said: “Because of the crisis, we are now faced with over 80,000 internally displaced persons with IDPs in camps located at Daudu, Gbajimba, Utsav, Anyiin and Ugba. Let us continue to be firm, let us continue to be law-abiding and not take the law into our hands or embark on reprisals. What we see happening now is deliberate. They want us to be angry and do their desire but we are not going to do their bidding.
“No matter the intimidation, blackmail and name-calling there is no going back on the Benue grazing law because it is for the good of all, herdsmen and farmers alike.”
Also speaking at the meeting, the former Minister of Steel; Wantaregh Paul Unongo, urged Benue families to defend themselves and not allow herdsmen slaughter them like chicken.
He said: “I am urging you because I know that under the UN chatter, if your government fails to protect you, you can protect yourself; it is no crime. Our people should therefore, organise themselves around the traditional ruler-ship to defend yourselves.
“And I also state categorical on our alliance with the North, that if in time of need your own friend is not going to help you, you are under bounds to make new friendship that will be mutually beneficial”.
The elder statesman insisted that President Buhari should come to the state to condole with the people, noting: “It was for this reason that I refused to be part of the delegation to the President”.
On the part of the ethnic leaders, Chief Ode Enyi, President-General of Omi ‘Yi Igede, said: “We have given the state government ultimatum to pull out of the Northern Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers Council if the killings in Benue persist and after issuing this ultimatum, the killings still continues. So, the wishes of the people must be obeyed”.
Mr. John Dyegh, Rrepresentative of Gboko federal constituency at the House of Representative, urged the people to revive the Middle Belt Forum, the platform through which the likes of legendary late Joseph Tarka propagated the interest of the people of the state and middle belt.
The state Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigerian, CAN, Rev. Akpen Leva, also expressed disappointment of the church over the visit of the Northern Governors’ Forum to the state three weeks after the killings. He said: “The church is disappointed in that visit because it was more of a mockery. We will continue to demand justice over the unprovoked murder of our children, pregnant women and the elderly.”
Former Minister of State for Education, Professor Jerry Agada, raised an alarm over the large influx of suspected herdsmen into Agatu. He stated that the Ardo of the area has told the people that they would come into the area irrespective of the provisions of the grazing law. He cautioned against any attack on the area.
One-time Ambassador to Canada and Mexico; Professor Iyorwuese Hagher, noted the need for the creation of state police since the Federal government has failed in its duty to protect the people of the Benue Valley.
The recurring attacks on Benue communities they all said must stop. The stakeholders also called for the restructuring of Nigeria to address the numerous challenges facing the country.
