March 08, (THEWILL)- Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has expressed grief over the sustained invasion and killings by suspected Fulani herdsmen in the state.
THEWILL reports that no fewer than 16 corpses have been recovered at Mbalom Council Ward in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State, following an invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen on Thursday night.
An eyewitness said the incident happened at about 7pm on Thursday when residents were sleeping outside their houses as a result of hot weather conditions.
Governor Alia, who is saddened by the event, sent deep condolences to families of victims of the attack, assuring them that his government would not sleep until the armed herders, who perpetrated the heinous act, were caught and brought before the law.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Tersoo Kula, in a statement in Makurdi on Friday, said the Governor has directed security operatives in the state to go after and apprehend the criminal herders as soon as possible.
“We gave these criminals orders to leave the state immediately. We also gave an ultimatum to those practising open grazing in the state to ensure they comply with the law or leave the state within 14 days. That ultimatum has since elapsed,” the statement added.
According to Governor Alia, what happened at Wa-ndoo was a calculated attempt to test the resolve of his government over the matter he had already given priority to.
“Criminals under whatever guise, who found their way into the state, should know that the time is up and there is no going back on strict enforcement of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law (2017),” he said.
It will be recalled that invading Fulani herdsmen on April 25, 2018, attacked a church at Mbalom in Gwer East Local Government Area where two Catholic Priests, Revd. Fr. Joseph Gor and Felix Iorlaha, and several others were murdered in cold blood.
Efforts to get the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sewuese Anene, proved abortive as she could not respond to text messages sent to her at the time of filing this report.
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