There indications that President Muhammadu Buhari will meet leaders of Benue on Monday over the recent attacks by people herdsmen.
BusinessDay gathered from the Presidential Villa Sunday that the President has extended invitations to both political, traditional and opinion leaders from the state to meet with him tomorrow, Monday to comprehensively address the security challenges facing the State.
BusinessDay also gathered that the urgent meeting was inevitable because of the frequency and scale of such violence and the reactions that have trailed the incidents.
The Presidency is said yo have been embarrassed by the large scale loss of lives caused by such repeated violence against innocent people.
The source who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the discussions at the meeting will address the issue of the Fulani herdsmen, which is at issue but may go beyond their menace to include the issue of the arming, training and financing of militia groups by some State governments.
He recalled the recent arrest of some armed militia members by the army and their confession of being armed by the Benue State government has added a new twist to the Benue saga and the source said it should not surprise anyone if the Presidency seeks an explanation about this from the Governor with a view to getting at the root of the state’s security challenges.
When contacted on the development, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said although he was aware of the expected parley with Benue leaders, he had not been briefed about the issues being brought to the table for discussions.
He said that the government welcomes any initiative by any group that would provide lasting solutions to be country’s security problems.
He explained that security entails collective participation of all and it was, in his view better for all to come together to find solutions instead of anyone trading blames.
Only recently, members of the Miyetti Allah group was reported to have threatened that Benue should expect more killings over the promulgation of the Anti Open Grazing law which came to effect on November 1, 2017.
It is not clear if the President has also been in touch with the leadership of the Miyetti Allah group.
This is just as Garba Shehu, also described the outtcome of the INEC-organized elections at the weekend, in which three different political parties won, as “a manifestation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s deep commitment to free and fair elections.”
Shehu who was commenting on the outcome of the polls said: ‘‘the President is inherently committed to the independence of the electoral commission in his belief that the will of the people shall be the basis of authority of government which is expressed through periodic, free and fair elections. He will do nothing to impede INEC.”
Congratulating the winners of the elections in Anambra central senatorial district, Ardo Kola state constituency in Taraba and Gwagwalada central constituency in the FCT, on behalf of the President, the spokesman reaffirmed that under President Buhari’s watch, Nigeria will record more free, fair and credible elections.
He reiterated the President’s commitment to strengthening democratic institutions in the country, by ensuring that all relevant institutions in the electoral process maintain a high-level of professionalism and independence throughout the electoral process.
He also commended INEC, security agencies, civil societies, the media and other stakeholders for their roles in the elections, Malam Garba called on parties not satisfied with the outcome of the polls to heed the President’s counsel by seeking legal redress through constitutional means.
Tony Ailemen, Abuja
