Benue urges FG to caution herder group leader

The Benue State government has urged the federal government to caution the leader of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodejo, to refrain from making inflammatory statements capable of causing problems in the country.

Bodejo was alleged to have said in a recent interview he granted some newsmen that the Fulani own Nigeria and do not need the permission of anyone to live anywhere in the country.

But reacting to Bodejo’s alleged comment, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Samuel Ortom on Animal Husbandry, Alhaji Shehu Tambaya, posited that such statement was capable of emboldening criminally-minded bandits to continue to engage in more attacks across the country.

Tambaya regretted a situation where farmers in Benue can no longer go to their farms especially in the rural areas due to the activities of armed herders.

“There is a great threat to food security right now due to the activities of these suspected herders who have been carrying out violent attacks against our farmers.

“It is sad to note that between January and now, over 60 farmers have been killed in Benue by suspected militia herders who invade their farms or ancestral lands every now and then. This has made the Benue people who are predominantly farmers to be scared to go to their farms,” he said.

The governor’s aide said there is a law against open grazing in Benue and all herdsmen flouting that law should know that there are repercussions if caught.

“Instead of inciting his people against Nigerians, Bodejo should rather be seen to be encouraging them to live peacefully with everyone and obey the laws of the land wherever they find themselves. Bodejo should strive to build love and trust between his people and their host communities instead of hatred. That’s the way to go,” Tambaya stated.