Mark Tasks Security Operatives to Fish out Killers in Benue

Says waste of human lives no longer tolerable ACF applauds Buhari over action on Zaki Biam Wike: Why I called for state of emergency in Benue

Omololu Ogunmade John Shiklam George Okoh Ernest Chinwo

Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, yesterday tasked security operatives to fish out perpetrators of deadly attacks on Zaki Biam yam market last Monday, as well as several other communities in the state which he said had claimed hundreds of lives and property worth millions of naira destroyed.

About 50 people were said to have been killed during the attacked at the Yam Market in the area.

Mark according to a statement by his Media Assistant, Paul Mumeh, listed various communities in Benue State which he said had come under gruesome attacks in recent times to include Zaki Biam, Guma, Buruku and Agatu, among others by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The former senate president who condemned the protracted attacks, further said they had become intolerable, noting that “harmless and innocent people across Benue State are being killed in their numbers routinely by armed men.”

He added: “Our people can no longer go freely to their farms and markets to pursue their legitimate businesses. Even those who resort to staying at home for fear of being attacked are not free.

“I’m yet to be told what the offence of the Benue man or woman living in his or her own land actually is. The killings of our people have continued, yet nobody has been arrested or apprehended for this heinous crime.”

He urged security operatives to deploy all powers within their reach to halt the massacre of Benue people as he suggested the need for all security formations to collaborate and work together as a team if they must nip the crisis in the bud.

Mark, however, advised the people against nursing reprisal attacks, saying it would only aggravate the situation rather than abate it and called for massive deployment of security forces to affected areas to contain the situation.

However, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for taking a decisive action against killings by suspected herdsmen in Zaki Biam.

The president had while condemning the attack, directed an immediate investigation with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book.

The ACF in a statement yesterday in Kaduna applauded Buhari for acting promptly by directing the security agencies to investigate attack and bring the perpetrators of the wicked and dastardly act to justice.

The statement signed by the spokesman of the forum, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, also commiserated with the government and people of Benue state over the ugly incident.

The forum appealed to communities that have coexisted peacefully over the years to be vigilant and report any suspicious persons in their midst to the security agencies.

Meanwhile, the Special Tactical Team of Nigerian Police deployed in Benue State by President Buhari has arrived in Makurdi, the state capital, with the assurance to restore peace in Zaki Biam.

The leader of the team, a Commissioner of Police, Ben Ahmed, gave the assurance yesterday while presenting members of the team to the state Governor, Samuel Ortom, at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi.

The team is made up of Police Mobile Force, Specially Trained Anti-riot Policemen, Counter Terrorism Units, conventional policemen, Special Anti-robbery Squad, SIB, Police Air Wing (Aerial Surveillance Helicopter), Sniffer dogs and undercover operatives.

Ahmed said President Buhari was deeply worried over the happenings in the state, therefore, the deployment of the tactical team was in response to the call of the state governor. He pleaded with the people of the state to avail both the existing security men and the Special Tactical Team the needed information that could ease their operations.

In his response, Ortom expressed appreciation to President Buhari for the swift response to his distress call.

He noted that his government has been proactive in handling security issues, and that with the combined force of the visiting team, unimaginable success will be recorded.

Ortom recalled the efforts of his administration in recovering over 700 weapons from youths in the state through the carrot approach of the state amnesty programme, saying the situation would have been worse if the weapons were still in the custody of hoodlums.

The governor pointed out specifically that Terwase Akwaza also known as Gana and members of his gang who masterminded the recent Zaki Biam attacks must be fished out and brought to justice.

He expressed disappointment over the careless statements credited to the Governor of Rivers State, Nyelsom Wike, who has allegedly called for a state of emergency in Benue State.

Ortom pointed out that the spate of killings in Rivers State is far higher than in Benue State, describing the action of his Rivers State counterpart as unfortunate.

He maintained that rather than sympathise with him at this time of pain, Wike has chosen to mock the state, praying that God should forgive the Rivers State governor.

Ortom has however sued for cooperation from both security men and the people of the state for improved security.

Meanwhile, Wike has said he called for a state of emergency in Benue State because that state Governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, was one of those who politicised insecurity in the country, which has now degenerated to consume his state.

He emphasised his call for the declaration of a state of emergency in Benue State because the state governor has lost control and lacks the capacity to stand up for his people.

Addressing the University of Port Harcourt Governing Council at the Government House, Port Harcourt during a courtesy Visit yesterday, Wike said Ortom was in the league of All Progressives Congress (APC) governors who plotted a state of emergency against Rivers State when the state had security challenges.

He said: “Benue Governor has lost control. That is why there is an immediate need to declare a state of emergency for the restoration of security and protection of the people.

“If you are from Benue State, I apologise. But when Rivers State had security challenges, Governor Ortom was amongst the APC governors who plotted for the declaration of state of emergency in the state.

“When the problem of insecurity started here in Rivers State, instead of joining hands to proffer solutions, they politicised it. Unless all those at the fore front of the plot against the state repent, this insecurity will visit them one after the other.”

He said as a result of the politicisation of security by APC governors, today insecurity has been exported to several parts of the country.

He said because he is in contact with the people of Rivers State, it is difficult to rig in the state. The governor said those who plotted to rig in Rivers State now understand the consequence.

Commenting on the University of Port Harcourt, Wike urged the university management to remain apolitical.