‘Insurgents set to wipe out Benue indigenes ‘
Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam yesterday told the Senate Committee on Security and Intelligence that insurgents who camouflaged as Fulani herdsmen to unleash terror in parts of the state were on a mission to wipe out Benue indigenes.
Suswam said this when Senator Mammam Magoro led the Senate joint Committees on National Security/Intelligence, Defence, Police and Interior on a fact finding mission to the state.
“This is not a case of ordinary herdsmen who come around with their wives and children. These ones came with AK 47 to shoot and to kill without provocation. They even resorted to the use of chemical weapon to intentionally wipe out our people. The destruction they have caused in the state in terms of property and death is unquantifiable. We are not saying that we don’t want to live with Fulanis, but those that come with AK47 are insurgents,” he said.
The governor therefore called on the committee to ensure that the matter is raised with his Nasarawa State counterpart, Tanko Almakura, following suspicion that the attackers are harboured in his state.
Responding, leader of the Senate delegation, Magoro, expressed concern over recent killings in the country, saying the experience was alien to the Nigerian society.
He therefore enjoined government, security agents, traditional rulers and other relevant groups to cooperate with the committee on its assignment so that a lasting solution could be found to crisis linked to farmers and herders in North-central states.