APRIL 15 , 2023 | EASTERN PILOT Report By: Sunny Green Itodo | The recent spate of killings carried out by Fulani herdsmen in Benue State...
APRIL 15 , 2023 | EASTERN PILOT
Report By: Sunny Green Itodo |
The recent spate of killings carried out by Fulani herdsmen in Benue State has left more than 134 people dead over the course of five days, across three local government areas. POLITICS NIGERIA reports that in response to these atrocities, the governor of the state, Samuel Ortom has issued a statement condemning the acts as “heinous and cowardly.” Despite the horrific events, Governor Ortom is urging the people of the state to remain calm and not take up arms against anyone.
He has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take action and ensure that those responsible for the killings are brought to justice. The governor has also asked the president to direct security agencies to step up efforts to end the violence. During a visit to the Mgbam community in Nyiev council ward of Guma Local Government Area, where 36 people were killed and over 40 were injured, Ortom reiterated his plea for assistance. He urged the president to do more than just offer condolences to the bereaved families and to take concrete action to stop the violence.
While Governor Ortom continues to appeal to the communities to remain law abiding, he also emphasises the need for vigilance in order to protect themselves from potential attacks. However, Pro-democracy group, Free Nigeria Movement, has described the killings in Benue State as a national disgrace. It said the government has failed in its innate task of providing security and welfare for citizens. It decried the seeming insensitivity of Nigerians to the killings and blamed the rising laxity for challenging fraud and illegality for the phenomenon.
Convener of the group, Dr. Moses Paul, who had earlier called for national day mourning in honour of the victims at a press conference in Abuja, spoke to newsmen at the end of the group’s strategic meeting today. According to him, “What is happening in Benue is shameful. Unfortunately, it appears Nigerians have gotten used to the killings hence the cold silence. “Why is there no national outcry? Even the media has since moved on from the story, same way they have abandoned Borno, returning only when there are ‘new’ deaths to report the numbers.
“But these killings happen every day. Women, men, children, property, all destroyed, and a country is calm? These are people with names, relationships, hopes, dreams. I cannot imagine how we just move on and allow the killings to continue unabated like Benue is Nigeria’s abattoir?” He said politicians have broken the resolve of Nigerians to the point where “We have lost the ability to demand for accountability, a cardinal trait of democracy.” Ogidi called on Nigerians to return to the values of peace, progress, unity and faith that formed a cloak of national cohesion for the nation.
“There is no better time to think Nigerian than now. We must begin to look beyond religion and tribe. What is happening in Benue should affect someone in Enugu like it would affect another in Sokoto, Rivers, Abuja, or Delta. There should be no lines in how we respond to evil. The killings in Benue is evil and must be equally condemned by all Nigerians.” Ogidi further blamed the culture of indifference among Nigerians as the cause for the silence on the Benue killings.
“I think it’s an emerging behavioural attribute of Nigerians amassed through long years of inept discordant leadership. Somehow, Nigerians have gotten used to not feeling anymore. Like we have been tortured and traumatized for decades and our bodies have grown weak to feelings. It’s a huge human tragedy that is playing out here.”
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