Buhari visits Benue, says FG deeply concerned about attacks

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said that government was
deeply worried about the incessant attacks on Benue’s rural
communities, and vowed to end the menace “very soon”.

Buhari, who met with farmers, herdsmen, government officials and
other stakeholders in Makurdi, denied insinuations that he was not
interested in what was happening to the north-central state.

“I cannot overlook the killings in Benue or any other part of
Nigeria. I cannot do that. I am genuinely worried about the attacks
in Benue and we are doing everything to end them,” he said.

He said that the insecurity in some states was a major concern
to his government, adding that concerted efforts were being made to
restore normalcy to every part of the country.

Buhari said that he was surprised at the revelation that the
Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, did not spend 24 hours
in Benue, when he directed him to relocate to the state and remain
there till peace was restored.

“I am getting to know this in this meeting. I am quite
surprised,” he said.

He, however, said that the meeting was not the best place to
expose the inefficiency of his appointees, and appealed to Benue
people to exercise restraint and live in peace with their
neighbours.

Buhari appealed to the people to pay more attention to farming,
especially rice cultivation, saying that rice importation had
dropped by 90 per cent since some states embarked on massive
production of the commodity.

Speaking earlier, Gov Samuel Ortom appealed to the President to
upgrade the ongoing military exercise in the state tagged “Ayem
Akpatema”, to a wider operation to effectively curb herdsmen
attacks.

“If the exercise is upgraded to a wider operation, it will
assist greatly in ending the incessant attacks and senseless
killings by herdsmen,” he said

He urged Benue people to learn to live in peace with other
people.

Ortom said that many states were currently involved in massive
cultivation of rice, and urged his people to join the trend.

The governor reiterated his call for the arrest of the
leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, alleging that the body was
responsible for the killings in Benue.

Ortom maintained that ranching was the best option for cattle
breeding in Nigeria, and advised herdsmen to embrace it so as to
minimise the clashes caused by open grazing.

He also called on the federal government to take over the
management of the Benue University Teaching Hospital, College of
Education, Katsina-Ala and Benue Polytechnic, Ugbokolo.

Malam Shetima Mohammed, a representative of Miyetti Allah Cattle
Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Benue Chapter, however,
denied responsibility for the Benue attacks.

“Our association is a peace loving one and the exact opposite of
what is being portrayed,” he declared. (NAN)

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said that government was
deeply worried about the incessant attacks on Benue’s rural
communities, and vowed to end the menace “very soon”.

Buhari, who met with farmers, herdsmen, government officials and
other stakeholders in Makurdi, denied insinuations that he was not
interested in what was happening to the north-central state.

“I cannot overlook the killings in Benue or any other part of
Nigeria. I cannot do that. I am genuinely worried about the attacks
in Benue and we are doing everything to end them,” he said.

He said that the insecurity in some states was a major concern
to his government, adding that concerted efforts were being made to
restore normalcy to every part of the country.

Buhari said that he was surprised at the revelation that the
Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, did not spend 24 hours
in Benue, when he directed him to relocate to the state and remain
there till peace was restored.

“I am getting to know this in this meeting. I am quite
surprised,” he said.

He, however, said that the meeting was not the best place to
expose the inefficiency of his appointees, and appealed to Benue
people to exercise restraint and live in peace with their
neighbours.

Buhari appealed to the people to pay more attention to farming,
especially rice cultivation, saying that rice importation had
dropped by 90 per cent since some states embarked on massive
production of the commodity.

Speaking earlier, Gov Samuel Ortom appealed to the President to
upgrade the ongoing military exercise in the state tagged “Ayem
Akpatema”, to a wider operation to effectively curb herdsmen
attacks.

“If the exercise is upgraded to a wider operation, it will
assist greatly in ending the incessant attacks and senseless
killings by herdsmen,” he said

He urged Benue people to learn to live in peace with other
people.

Ortom said that many states were currently involved in massive
cultivation of rice, and urged his people to join the trend.

The governor reiterated his call for the arrest of the
leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, alleging that the body was
responsible for the killings in Benue.

Ortom maintained that ranching was the best option for cattle
breeding in Nigeria, and advised herdsmen to embrace it so as to
minimise the clashes caused by open grazing.

He also called on the federal government to take over the
management of the Benue University Teaching Hospital, College of
Education, Katsina-Ala and Benue Polytechnic, Ugbokolo.

Malam Shetima Mohammed, a representative of Miyetti Allah Cattle
Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Benue Chapter, however,
denied responsibility for the Benue attacks.

“Our association is a peace loving one and the exact opposite of
what is being portrayed,” he declared. (NAN)