Buhari Sends Message To Ortom Over Fresh Killings In Benue

President Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to the recent killings in Benue State which reportedly involved herders and farmers in the affected community.

Last week, reports emerged that suspected herdsmen in broad daylight attacked Yelwata in the Guma Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State and killed scores of people.

The assailants were said to have invaded the community around 1:00 pm on Wednesday and shot at people who were on their farms.

In a message to the State Governor, Samuel Ortom, President Buhari berated the event and pledged to fully support the state leader and the people of Benue with resources to investigate the latest herder-farmer killings.

Buhari, in a communique issued on Saturday through his spokesman, Garba Shehu, said though he had disagreed with the governor severally on political matters, the gruesome killing of citizens in the state is unacceptable.

The Nigerian leader, while commiserating with families of those killed in the recent attack, said politics must be set aside to bridge divisions in the interests of all citizens.

He also sympathized with officers of the Nigeria Police Force and government officials who lost their lives in recent attacks in the state, saying the government will hold those responsible for the attack accountable.

The statement read: “President Muhammadu Buhari and all his administration condemn the recent attacks in Benue State. No one should attack anyone because of their way of life. Neither should anyone take revenge on others for injustice done to them. Both should be held accountable for their actions, and justice delivered.

“It is equally unacceptable for the lives of those merely practising their duties as police officers and government officials to also be lost. The government will hold those that took those lives to account.

“There are many times when President Buhari and Governor Ortom of Benue State have disagreed politically. But, today, the President puts all these aside, to reach out to the Governor to express the heartfelt condolences of the nation for what has occurred in recent days.

“The President pledges the full support of the Federal administration in assisting him, his State government, and the people of Benue with resources to investigate what has occurred. When tragedies like this occur, we must remember first and foremost that we are all Nigerians.

“Politics too often gets in the way of what is best for our nation. Too often, it divides us. As those who have been entrusted with leadership by our citizens, we have a duty to remember that, and do everything we can to bridge divisions and come together in the interests of all our people.”