March 13, (THEWILL) – Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), has alleged that suspected Fulani herdsmen have killed about 5,138 people in various communities of the state during invasions since 2015.
The Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr Emmanuel Shior, who made the disclosure in Makurdi on Tuesday, at a media chat, also alleged that another 3,000 persons have been displaced in the recent attacks by herdsmen in Gwer West, Logo, Ukum and Kwande local Government areas, while celebrating the defeat of Governor Samuel Ortom’s Senatorial bid in the presidential and national assembly election of February 11 polls.
According to him, at the moment, 18 out of the 23 local Government Councils have been invaded by herdsmen with houses burnt and occupied with over 2 million people displaced and still at various camps.
“A few weeks ago, Benue communities were witnessing an influx of cattle with herdsmen on the ground that Ortom had lost the Senate bid and are celebrating the first victory. That is the end of the anti-open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law regime.”
The SEMA boss said, he read in newspapers that a Fulani group are strategising for more action against the state; expressing the hope that the Benue government will not be deterred by a lack of support from the federal government and that the PDP governorship candidate, Titus Uba will not renege on efforts put in place by Governor Samuel Ortom to fend for IDPs in the state.
“As president Buhari’s administration exits, another president will be willing to work with our next government to stop the ongoing carnage. The APC-led government has neglected us. The Ministry of Humanitarian and Disaster Management is there, but the state government has not heard from them.”
Shior insists that over 10,000 Cameronians Refugees in the Kwande local Government area of the state are being protected by the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards against invading herdsmen attack.
He accused the leader of APC in the state, senator George Akume and the APC governorship candidate, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia of conspiracy of silence and not visiting any of the IDP camps in the state; denying allegations from Alia that SEMA has mismanaged welfare packages of IDPs.
While challenging senator Akume and Fr Alia to show what they have done for the IDPs, Dr Shior said the APC governorship candidate does not understand the working of government, as well as how much the Ortom administration has done through SEMA in providing succour to IDPs since 2018.
The SEMA boss commended governors of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike; Akwa Ibom, Emmanuel Udom; Taraba counterpart, Darius Ishaku and Mr Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party for their visit and support for the welfare of Benue IDPs.
He, therefore, begged Benue people to come out en mass on March 18 and vote for Titus Uba to be the next governor so as to sustain the developmental stride, security and other measures put in place by governor Ortom to stop terrorists herdsmen militia and their collaboration from taking over Benue State.
