What I Told President Buhari During Our Meeting – Benue Gov | The Precision

Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has accused the leadership of
Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a group of Fulani cattle breeders in the
country, for the strings of killings in the state.

Mr. Ortom said he had informed President Muhammadu Buhari of the
group’s role in the killing of dozens of people over the last one week,
and had disclosed the location of the attackers.

He spoke Tuesday after a meeting with the president in Abuja.

“I had to brief him, he is also doing further investigation to know
the next line of action. I believe that my request that the leadership
of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, who had earlier threatened and I accused
them directly, since June last year, I have been writing to the
leadership of security agencies, that these people are a threat to our
collective interest and they must be dealt with,” the governor told
journalists after the meeting.

“They must be arrested and prosecuted because we cannot allow
impunity to continue to thrive. And of course threat and no action has
resulted in this killing and I think that Mr. President will also do the
needful to ensure something is done.”

His comments come amidst reports of continued attacks in the state.
On Monday, two policemen were killed by herdsmen who had earlier
exchanged gunfire with the police, Mr. Ortom said.

He said the officers were “slaughtered like goats” in Logo local
government area, one of two areas at the centre of the crisis, while
another officer was left badly injured.

“And it is taking a different dimension. Just yesterday (Monday) in
Logo local government, mobile policemen that were deployed to Logo to
keep vigil to protect the people and the land; these militia came,
exchanged fire with them, caught two of them and slaughtered them like
goats — mobile policemen!” he said.

“They shot another one, ‘machete’ him and left him in the pool of his
blood but luckily he did not die. We have taken him to the hospital, we
are treating him, the other one that was declared missing was found
today (Tuesday).”

President Buhari, who has faced criticisms for his handling of
previous attacks, has appeared more forceful in the past week, mandating
heads of security agencies to curtail the violence and directing the
police Inspector General, Ibrahim Idris, to relocate to Benue.

A police statement said Mr. Idris is moving with additional five
units of mobile police force making a total of 10 units deployed to the
state.

Mr. Ortom insisted the identities and locations of the attacker are well known, saying they should be prosecuted.

“And since we started the implementation (of the state’s anti-open
grazing law) there has been relative peace amongst farmers and herdsmen;
they were doing well until this militia coming from this Miyetti Allah
Kautal Hore came and attacked us,” he said.

“And they are known, we know where they are. As I talk to you they
are in Tongua in Awe local government; that is where these people are
camped and coming to attack people.” (Premium Times)