Return military weapons without delay, Ortom tells residents under attack

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Friday directed leaders of Konshisha community to prevail those who took away military weapons to return them without further delay.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Makurdi, the state capital, on Friday, Ortom called on the military as well as other parties to the ongoing crisis in the area to restrain themselves.

“Following the crisis between communities in Konshisha and Oju Local Government Areas resulting in the current military operation in some communities, I, on behalf of Benue State Government, call for restraint on all sides including the military.

“I have already directed leaders of the affected areas to ensure that the weapons the bandits took away from the military personnel deployed to bring peace between the warring communities are retuned without delay.

“I further urge members of those communities to expose perpetrators of the unprovoked attacks on the military as such an act is condemnable and also capable of jeopardizing the efforts Government has made to guarantee the return of peace to the area.

“I however urge the military to avoid civilian casualties and protect law abiding people while efforts are on to recover their missing weapons,” the governor said.

Affected residents had said more than 70 innocent persons were killed during an invasion by the military.