Herdsmen attacks: FG must provide security for Benue indigenes

Emmanuel Orker-Jev, member representing Buruku Federal Constituency of Benue State, on Sunday called on Federal Government to provide adequate security for the people across the state in order to forestall the spate of attacks by Fulani herdsmen on innocent Nigerians, including women and children.
Orker-Jev, who doubles as chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, gave the charge while reacting to the recent attacks on Mkovughur village in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State.
It would be recalled that the Fulani herdsmen who were armed with guns and machetes reportedly invaded the community last Friday, unleashed terror on the villagers, leaving several people injured.
The Benue lawmaker, who made the clarion call in a chat with Legislative Correspondents, noted that the state could not afford to cede any area to grazing considering the spate of terror unleashed on its people.
“This is one killing too many” and the people of the state will not fold their arms and allow herdsmen to exterminate their people,” Orker-Jev, who doubles as the chairman of the House committee on Rules and Business said.
While stressing that the killing of a monarch and six other persons by the herdsmen was unacceptable, the lawmaker promised to sponsor a motion when the House reconvene on Tuesday to officially register the dismay of the Benue indigenes to Federal Government.
“This is one killing too many and to us it is unacceptable. We cannot pretend that all is well when our constituents are being massacred by a group of blood sucking individuals. Our people are hospitable and peace loving but what they get in return is the loss of precious lives. We can no longer take.
“I am therefore calling on the federal government to take decisive actions in bringing the perpetrators of this dastard act to justice and also provide security for our people.
“Recall that recently at his installation, the Tor Tiv, His Royal Highness, Professor James Ayatse reiterated the position of the state to the effect that we do not have land to cede to herdsmen; and if this is their response to the declaration of the Tor Tiv, we urge the federal government to look into this issue with utmost concern because our people cannot fold their arms and allow the herdsmen kill all our constituents,” Orker-Jev warned.
Orker-Jev lamented that inspite of the hospitality of the people of the area and the state to the Fulani herdsmen, argued that the brutal and inhuman activities toward the people of Benue state can no longer be tolerated.