Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue has cautioned youths in the
state against taking the law into their hands over recent attacks on some rural
communities.
“No one should take the law into his hands over the attacks;
what we should all do is to report any breach of peace to the law enforcement
agencies for necessary action,” Ortom said on Monday in Makurdi, during a
stakeholders’ meeting.
He said that he had consistently briefed President Muhammadu
Buhari about the activities of herdsmen in the state, and expressed optimism
that permanent peace would soon return.
“I have intimated the president about the wanton killings
and destruction of property in the state.
“We have taken some measures and I can assure you that in no
distant time, there will be light at the end of the tunnel,” he told the
stakeholders.
He said that security agents were on the trail of Terwase
Agwaza, popularly known as “Ghana”, who has been accused of killing his aide,
Mr Denen Igbana.
“We hope to bring him and other criminals in Benue to
justice; we shall not rest until we rid the state of all criminal elements,” he
said.
He promised to execute projects that would create
opportunities for Benue people and revealed that the Federal Government would
soon release the Paris Club fund to the states.
“As soon as the money is released, we shall let you know and
seek your input in our quest toward a better Benue,” he said.
Nine local governments were hit last week, by the attackers
that left scores dead, and many others injured.
As part of measures to end the clashes between herdsmen and
farmers, Ortom recently sent an anti-grazing executive bill to the Benue House
of Assembly.
The bill seeks to prohibit open grazing which is often
blamed for the clashes between farmers and herdsmen, and replace it with cattle
ranches, to curtail the movement of cattle.
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