Chidi Samuel || President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday pleaded with a delegation of Benue state leaders who visited him at Aso Rock, to accommodate the Fulani herdsmen resident in their state.
President Buhari also urged the delegation to show restraint in discussing the matter.
According to Mr. Femi Adesina, the meeting was called to discuss the lingering crisis orchestrated by the killings in Benue state carried out by suspected Fulani Herdsmen.
The President, Adesina said, assured his visitors that all the perpetrators of violence in the state will be made to face the wrath of the law even as his administration had already begun a process of finding a lasting solution to the perennial challenge of clashes between herdsmen and farmers around the country.
President Buhari was quoted to have said, “Your Excellency, the governor, and all the leaders here, I am appealing to you to try to restrain your people.”
“I assure you that the police, the Department of State Security and other security agencies had been directed to ensure that all those behind the mayhem get punished.
“I ask you in the name of God to accommodate your countrymen. You can also be assured that I am just as worried, and concerned with the situation.”
President Buhari commiserated with all the victims of the attacks, saying relevant agencies had been directed to start catering for the humanitarian needs.
But Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, has howver insisted that his state does not have land for cattle colonies.
Ortom spoke with journalists after the meeting with President Buhari.
He said, “Like I told you the last time I came here, I did not understand what colonies meant. Today, I was privileged to meet Audu Ogbeh, who is a proud son of the state and he did explain to me that a colony is many ranches our in one place, restricted in one place.”
“So, for us in Benue state, we don’t have 10,000 hectares, they are looking for 5,000 hectares. We have no land for that kind of a thing to take place. So, people are free. Other states have the land but we in Benue state, we don’t have and that was what led to us enacting the anti-grazing law.”
He said the herdsmen were not only issuing threats but they began occupying their lands.
“And until this time I speak to you, they are still issuing out threats and it is not just anti-grazing law, it is occupation because the manner with which they come and invade the man and take over the land it is something,” Ortom said.
“I am not sure willing to join issues with anyone. We are law-abiding citizens, we are not going to let our people go out of control. We have made it known that for us in Benue state, is that there is no room for anyone taking laws into his hands. It is expected even when you are offended or someone violates the law, the best thing to do is to report. But when you take laws into your hand you are inviting anarchy and we will not accept this.”