A pressure group, Tiv Youth Advancement Vanguard (TYAV), has called on Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, to collaborate with the federal government to find a lasting solution to insecurity problems in the state instead of blame games.
President of the group, Barr Tyohemba Denen at a news conference in Abuja on Monday, maintained that while the killings and other crimes going on in the state were regrettable, it was imperative for the state and federal governments to collaborate in proffering solution instead of “grandstanding or playing politics with human lives.
“Insecurity in Benue State is not one dimensional. The insecurity in Sankera, Konshisha and other places have nothing to do with Fulani.
“The fact that the governor is always projecting the Fulani issue and neglecting the insecurity in these other places shows that he is more interested in the political interests than dealing with the situation as it is.
“There have been killings going on in Sankera comprising of three local government areas of Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala leading to loss of the countless number of lives without the governor mentioning it.
“Recently, militia group abducted, killed and burnt twelve soldiers who were on peacekeeping in the troubled boundaries of Konshisha and Oju LGA. This communal clash led to the deaths and destruction of lots of property without the governor taking any proactive step.
“In Tyo-Mu where the governor claimed to have been ambushed by herdsmen, there has been protracted land dispute between the Hyarev and kparev settlers in the area for decades.
“The several cases of assassination and cult-related killings in the state call for serious thoughts; decisive actions and collaborations with the federal authorities and security agencies to tame the rising wave of insecurity in the state,” the group said.
The group observed that the continued diatribes by the governor and presidential media aides were unfortunate in view of the fact that security is a complex matter and urged the state government and the various security agencies to find a permanent solution to the challenges.
According to the group, the anti-open grazing law had not shown to be effective in stopping armed herdsmen, saying it had rather aggravated the problem.
“It’s notable that the livestock guards confiscate cows from the herders and fail to return all when the owners come to pay a ransom and this has created more attacks”, the group said.
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