Benue killings getting out of hand, says governor

Samuel Ortom

The Benue State Governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, has lamented that the killings currently going on in Agatu Local Government Area of his state is getting out of hand.
He said the situation, which had led to the death of many people and the destruction of several settlements, had degenerated.
Ortom, who spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday, said he was forced to travel to Abuja to brief the Presidency due to the situation on the ground in Agatu.
Media reports had it that at least 145 persons had been killed in 25 villages in the local government area.
Ortom said he could no longer sit back in the state and continue to watch the ugly events without seeking help from the Federal Government.
The governor said, “There are issues in my state, especially the invasion of herdsmen in one of my local governments, Agatu Local Government.
“While we are making our own efforts to ensure that we maintain law and order, I thought it was necessary to also brief the Presidency.
“We also discussed other issues of interest. I think that the security situation in Benue, especially in Agatu, is getting out of hand.
“Right now, as I talk to you, several settlements have been razed, an undisclosed number of people were killed and my people are refugees all over the place. I cannot sit back in Benue State when such a thing is happening.
“The security agencies within the state are also trying, the police, the Army, the Civil Defence and the DSS. We have been holding a series of meetings. It is really alarming.”
He added, “Like I keep advocating, there is a need for us to find a lasting solution, which is creation of ranches. That is the best global best practice. That is what is happening everywhere in the world.
“The land that used to exist in 1950s, when we had cattle routes and grazing areas, is no longer there. It is the same 923,000 square metres that is still existing. Then, the population of Nigeria was less than 60 million. Today we have a population of over 170 million. How do you cope with allowing grazing areas and all that?
“But what I have been telling our people is that what we need as a lasting solution is ranches. I have been telling them to sheathe their swords; we must learn to live with one another.
“The herdsmen must appreciate that the farmer lives on his farming and the farmer must appreciate that the herdsman lives on his cattle.
“There must be mutual understanding so that we work together and address this. We must adopt the method of live and let’s live. It is not a matter of who has won. The herdsmen and farmers must work together while the government is looking at establishing ranches just like it is done globally,” he said.
The governor said the response he got from the Vice-President showed that the state and the Presidency were on the same page on the need to resolve the matter on time.
He said the issue would also be discussed at the next meeting of the National Economic Council with the aim of taking a definite step that would put an end to the situation.