Benue vows to ward off herdsmen attacks

Benue State Deputy Governor, Benson Abounu, has said the state government will take stringent measures to check incessant attacks on communities by Fulani herdsmen.

Abounu, who was fielding questions from newsmen on incessant killing of Benue people by herdsmen, condemned Tuesday’s attack on three communities of Tse Aondo, Tse Ankyou and Igbogom in Ukum local government area where seven persons were killed alongside the destruction of several houses.

While noting that the attacks have continued in spite of efforts by government to halt them, the deputy governor said the herdsmen came from neighbouring Taraba State to attack the communities.

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He said government was bothered by the attacks and remarked that Benue was under siege. At the time one thinks that the attack has stopped, another attack will take place and maintained that the ugly trend will no longer be condoned.

While describing as ridiculous the claims by the Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, that both Benue and Plateau States had agreed to take a World Bank loan for cattle grazing, he explained that the loan which has single digit of 1.75 per cent interest has not even been applied for by the Benue State and emphasized that the facility was not for grazing.

On the clashes between Ngbo people of Ebonyi and Agila in Ado local government area of Benue State, Abunu disclosed that both states have agreed that boundary demarcation by the National Boundaries Commission should be carried out to stop fighting at the boundary.
Towards this end, he said committees have been set up on both sides to sensitize the people on the need for the demarcation.