Senator representing Benue North East Senatorial District, Gabriel Suswam, yesterday expressed concern over alleged silence of the federal government over killings of unarmed people in Gbeji community of Ukum Local Government Area of the state.
Our correspondent had reported that 23 dead bodies were recovered on Wednesday after gunmen in the early hours of the day launched an attack in the community.
- Witness: How Apostle Suleman escaped gun attack
- PDP, LP gov’ship candidates express readiness to attend Media Trust debate
But, as of Friday, death toll from the mayhem in the area was said to have reached 36 including two policemen with several others still allegedly missing.
Suswam, a former governor of the state, who visited the troubled area to commiserate with his constituents, decried the cold attitude of the federal government towards the killings in the state even as he added that the time is ripe for the people to rise up and defend themselves from their killers.
The federal lawmaker said that it was only one week ago he visited Mchia, a neighbouring village of Gbeji where 22 persons were murdered.
“The Federal Government has gone to sleep and does not care about the security of the people. These are peasant farmers whose properties have been destroyed and their lives decapitated,” he said.