Categories: Top story

Ortom Mourns 134 Killed In Benue, Urges Buhari To Deploy More Troops

 

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to match words with action by deploying more troops, following the killing of 134 people over the last five days in Otukpo, Apa and Guma local government areas (LGAs).

Ortom made the call on Saturday during a visit to Mgbam community in Nyiev council ward of Guma LGA where 36 people, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), were killed by suspected herdsmen on Friday night and 40 people injured.

In another attack on Monday, 47 people were killed in Ikobi community of Apa LGA, including the traditional ruler who was killed along with his subjects, followed by the killing of another 51 people in Umogidi community of Otukpo LGA on Wednesday, leaving rural communities in fear of attacks.

READ ALSO: Benue Killings: Attackers Must Be Found And Dealt With, Says Buhari

Immediately after the conduct of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections, suspected herdsmen resumed attacks on rural communities in Kwande, Guma and Gwer West LGAs in Benue State.

With 134 deaths recorded, Ortom expressed displeasure that IDPs and farming communities in the state had become soft targets for suspected herdsmen.

During his visit to Mgbam community, Ortom lamented the continuous killings, appealing for help from the President.

Survivors are however receiving treatment at the state university teaching hospital in Makurdi.

‘Attackers Must Be Dealt With’

Buhari, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Saturday condemned the “extreme violence” and killings of scores of people in Benue State within one week.

The President spoke out against the “use of terrorism as a tool in inter-communal conflicts”, directing that the attackers “be found and dealt with” swiftly under the law.

He directed the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and military commanders to enhance surveillance on every front and to immediately review the security management in the affected areas.

Oluwatobi Aworinde

Disqus Comments Loading...
Share
Published by
Oluwatobi Aworinde

Recent Posts

Do Not Denigrate Nigeria In Your Sermons, Tinubu Appeals To Religious Leaders

He urged the leaders to be more constructive in their criticism of those in elective…

7 hours ago

Soldiers’ Death: Wanted Delta Monarch Turns Self In

Before he turned himself in to the police, the monarch spoke to journalists, insisting on…

9 hours ago

45 Killed As Bus Plunges Off South Africa Bridge

The vehicle had been heading from neighbouring Botswana to Moria in the north of the…

9 hours ago

CBN Pegs Minimum Capital Base For Banks At ₦500bn 

The apex bank said the new minimum capital base for commercial banks with national authorisation…

10 hours ago

Soldiers’ Killing Oil-Related, DSS Should Lead Probe — Urhobo Leader

The Urhobo leader called for an independent probe into the circumstances that led to the…

10 hours ago

Tyrants Won’t Become Leaders In Parliamentary Democracy — Utomi 

The thought leader noted that thriving democracies in the world practice parliamentary democracy.

11 hours ago