Ortom cries out again! Says herdsmen have killed 60 farmers in Benue

Despite the launch of Ayem A Kpatuma (Cat Race)- a military exercise to check the excesses of invaders in Benue, the State Governor Samuel Ortom, has cried out that no less than 60 farmers were killed last week in attacks led by herdsmen.

The governor made the revelation when he led the Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr. Paul Enenche, and his wife, Becky to the burial site of 73 victims who were killed on January 11 during an attack by herdsmen.

Ortom disclosed that armed Fulani herdsmen, last week, invaded his village in Guma Local Government Area and killed more than 60 people, mostly farmers, while scores of others were rendered homeless.

The governor said; “As at today, after the launch of the exercise Ayem A Kpatuma, there has been influx of over one million cattle into Benue territory. This is not acceptable, but we believe in the exercise that they will ensure that justice is given to us because we are law-abiding; we don’t want to take laws into our hands. We believe that the Federal Government, whose prerogative it is to ensure the enforcement of our law, will support us.

Read also: DELTA: Lawmaker storms herdsmen’s den, retrieves corpse of murdered farmer

“After the burial of the 73 people killed by the herdsmen, more than 60 other people were killed just last week alone. These are innocent farmers who went to do their legitimate farm work. But thank God for Mr. President, we appreciate him for sending the Exercise Ayem A Kpatuma to the state. We were told it is not an operation, but an exercise.”

The governor appealed to the military to help flush out the invaders who came in with over one million cattle into the now deserted communities saying they should be sent away so that the over 160,000 displaced people who were in eight camps around the state could return to their homes.

 

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