Senator urges security agencies to intervene in Benue killings

• wants NEMA to send reliief materials to stranded IDPs

Senator representing Benue South District, Abba Moro, has called on security agencies in the country to, as a matter of urgency, intervene in the killings of natives by suspected herdsmen in four communities in Benue South Senatorial District. 

 The lawmaker made the plea during plenary on Wednesday after raising a point of order to draw the attention of the upper chamber to recent killings in Ado Local Government Area. 

 Coming under Order 43 of the Senate Rules, Senator Moro bemoaned what he described as “a violent rising wave of Fulani Herdsmen attacks in the Benue South Senatorial District of Benue State”.

 According to him, “the menace has spread like wildfire which poses a great threat to the continued peaceful existence of Communities in Benue South Region. 

 “Notes further with grave pain that, on 30th May, 2021, Odokem, Ataloga, Ndigwe and Nduobasi Communities of Ado Local Government Area in Benue South Senatorial District were invaded by suspected Fulani herdsmen, who were heavily armed and over 100 natives were gruesomely murdered with several victims lying critically ill in different places of treatment. 

 “Sadly note again that, there have been recurring terror attacks on farmers and natives of the Benue South Senatorial District over the years by these herders, which attacks have been perpetually carried out with impunity with no suspect arrested by relevant agencies or operatives for proper action.

 “One of such attacks again occurred in   Odoke and  Ezza/Effium Communities of same Ado Local Government Area which resulted in people fleeing their homes to neighboring communities and consequently the establishment of Internally Displaced Persons’ Camps at Igumale and Apa-Ugogzu of the Senatorial District in fear of further attacks. 

 “Worried that as at the time being, no cogent intervention or panacea to tackling this ugly thread of Fulani Herdsmen attacks on Benue South Constituents has come out from any quarter at any level whatsoever. 

 Accordingly, Senator Moro urged the National Emergency Management Agency to quickly mobilize resources and rehabilitation materials to victims of the attack and those in the IDP Camps to ameliorate and cushion the effects of the crisis on the people. 

 He further urged the Ministry of Defense and relevant Security agencies to mobilize focal persons to the  affected areas to patrol until peace and calmness returns to the area.

 The Senate, thereafter, held a minute silence to honour the victims of recent attacks.