A league of Benue State Professionals yesterday in Abuja blamed President Muhammadu Buhari for the incessant suspected Fulani herdsmen attacks in the state.
The professionals under the auspices of Community Development Coalition (CDC) said their position was due to the non-provision of decisive action by President Buhari leading to the over 20 attacks in the state starting from the first attack of 7 July 2015 barely two months after the President was inaugurated in May 2015.
The convener of the group Prof Yima Sen told reporters that the last attacks were preceded by proud and arrogant boast by known officials of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, the socio-cultural association of herdsmen that Benue will know no peace due to the passage and implementation of the anti-open grazing law.
Others at the briefing include Chief Cliff Atile, Sir Bernard Verr, Prof Heklen Jekelle and Barrister Fater Sarwuan among others.
“Since this administration came into office in May 2015, there have been at least 20 vicious attacks on defenseless communities, the first being on 7 July 2015 and the most recent being in the early hours of 2 January 2018. Hundreds of lives have been lost and properties worth billions of naira destroyed and economic activities hampered. What is particularly disturbing is the level of insensitivity that has characterized the usual slow, belated and knee jerk response of the Federal Government and particularly President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.
The professionals also rejected the idea of cattle colonies saying it is joke taken too far that after the British colonization of the country, Fulani herdsmen would be striking terror in the people to colonize Benue and possibly other parts of the country.
On the security measure by the government including the relocation of IG Ibrahim Idris and Minister of Interior Abdulrahaman Danbazau efforts, the groups said this shows that the President is less concern by refusing to deploy soldiers as was done in areas that least faced what Benue is facing.
“With two policemen killed and one injured by this rampaging killers, who is going to protect the defenseless people of Benue or is the IG that said the killings were communal clashes? Why can’t the President come down to Benue to show the fatherly action expected of him. This is not what we deserve by voting for him in 2015,” he said.