From: Rose Ejembi, Makurdi

The three socio-cultural groups in Benue State have called on the acting President Yemi Osinbajo to immediately order the arrest the President of Miyetti  Allah Kautal Hore (MAKH), and Secretary, Saleh Alhassan.

He was also urged to charge the duo for inciting the herdsmen against the Benue people.

Recall that only last week, the MAKH had addressed the press in Abuja where they vowed to resist the Anti-Open Grazing Bill recently passed into law by the state House of Assembly and accented to by the state Governor, Samuel Ortom.

Addressing newsmen, in Makurdi, on Wednesday, leaders of the Mzough U Tiv, Chief Edward Ujege, Idoma National Forum, Barr. Amali Adoya Amali and that of Omi Ny’Igede, Chief Odeh Enyi, maintained that if this is not urgently done, the federal government should be held responsible for breakdown of law and order and further destruction of lives and property by the Fulani herdsmen.

“If this is not done urgently any breakdown of law and order and further destruction of lives and property by the Fulani herdsmen will be blamed on the Federal Government for not living up to its constitutional responsibility. If Federal Government feels reluctant and unwilling to do this, we are taking the herdsmen to court.”

Speaking on behalf of the socio-cultural groups, Ujege also called on all Benue representatives in the National Assembly to rise up to the occasion and mobilize national support for the Benue people in order to forestall the impending genocide and annexation of our God-given land by the Fulani herdsmen.

While emphasising that the Fulani could not claim to be struggling with the Tiv specifically or any other ethnic nationalities in Benue State over natural resources, Ujege stressed that.” the Fulani are not indigenous to Benue State and thus cannot lay claim to our resources legally or culturally.”

“If this is an attempt by the Fulani to annex and occupy our land, we are ready to resist this aggression with all the legitimate means that we can

mobilize. We inherited this land from our forefathers and we shall protect it for our children and generations yet to be born.”

“The Fulani might be indigenous to several states in the far Northern parts of Nigeria and thus may have customary rights to land in those

respective states. They may also have the legal rights and freedom to acquire land for ranching in any part of the country, but the Benue people will therefore resist all attempts by Fulani to annex and occupy our territory.”

The group while insisting that there are no indigenous Fulani in Benue State, called on all Benue communities to at this point form vigilante groups and ensure that all Benue youths are ready to defend themselves in case of any attack by the Fulani herdsmen.

They appreciated Governor Ortom, Speaker Terkimbi Ikyange, and all members of the State House of Assembly for their proactive position in ensuring the passage of the law.

 

The Benue Socio-cultural leaders at the press conference held at the NUJ House, Makurdi, on Wednesday.