By Enyichukwu Enemanna
President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday condemned the “extreme violence” and killings of scores of persons in North Central state of Benue in the last one week.
Escalating killings have been recorded in recent times in the state with the governor, Samuel Ortom accusing herders of perpetrating the attacks.
On Wednesday, at least 46 persons, including the thirty-three-year-old son of Otukpo Local Government Area Chairman Bako Eje, were killed by suspected herdsmen who invaded Umogidi village of Entekpa-Adoka district in local government in Benue State.
It came barely 24 hours after the same village, an Idoma-speaking community suffered an attack by suspected herdsmen with three persons killed.
Also, suspected herdsmen on Friday attacked Internal Displaced Persons (IDP) camps at Agan in the Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue with scores of persons killed.
President Buhari in a statement on Saturday by one of his spokespersons, Garba Shehu, condemned the “use of terrorism as a tool in inter-communal conflicts”, directing that the attackers “be found and dealt with” swiftly under the law.
He directed the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force and military commanders to enhance surveillance on every front and to immediately review the security management in the affected areas.
The President also conveyed his grief and sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives due to the attacks
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those murdered. The entire nation stands united in the fight against the forces of terror and evil,” the President was quoted as saying.
