The Federal Government is seeking ‘utmost restraint’ by the media and the public over the recent farmers/herders’ clash in Benue State.
This,according to Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed,is necessary in order not to further inflame passion and worsen the situation.
Mohammed,in a statement in Abuja, said while the Federal Government “is working hard to address the situation with a view to preventing a recurrence, not just in Benue State but everywhere across the country, it is incumbent on the media and public commentators not to engage in actions that can aggravate the crisis.”
But he explained that the appeal does mean that the media “should not cover the crisis nor asking public commentators to desist from commenting on it. All we are saying is that both must be circumspect.”
He added:’’The current poisoned atmosphere of incendiary comments, unrestrained use of pictures and footages that offend human sensibilities as well as fingerpointing can only exacerbate the situation and complicate ongoing efforts to end the crisis.’’
Alhaji Mohammed said the Federal Government is “absolutely saddened by the loss of lives and the destruction of property resulting from the crisis, and recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, in commiserating with the Benue Governor, unreservedly condemned the killings and also assured of the necessary security measures to prevent further attacks and bring the perpetrators to book.”