By Matthew Ajai-Kume
Governor Samuel Ortom has described the attacks and killing of innocent Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Abagena Camp as barbaric, cowardly, condemnable and unacceptable.
The Benue State Governor made this known Tuesday when he visited the scene of armed Fulani herdsmen attack and killing of seven IDPs at Abagena camp.
“I call on President Muhammadu Buhari to rise up to his responsibility of protecting lives and property,” Governor Ortom appealed.
“In the past few months, more than 70 people have been killed by armed Fulani herdsmen across the state,” he lamented.
According to the governor, the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore are behind the attacks but their acts will not deter him from enforcing the Prohibition of Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law.
Governor Ortom appealed to President Buhari to convene a security summit where he would personally address the nation on the state of insecurity and what needed to be done, in order to surmount the challenges, as well as declare a state of emergency on security.
The attacks which took place around 12:00AM also left several people injured.
Due to the attack and killings, angry youths of the Abagena community, blocked the Makurdi – Lafia Federal Highway with the dead bodies, stones and logs of wood.
Some residents of Abagena who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity said the gunmen forcefully gained access into the camp, shot sporadically and macheted others.
They added that, for some times now, the security agencies attached to the camp are always not on duty while they called upon the state government to provide adequate security to them.
