The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to match words with action by deploying more troops, following the killing of 134 people over the last five days in Otukpo, Apa and Guma local government areas (LGAs).
Ortom made the call on Saturday during a visit to Mgbam community in Nyiev council ward of Guma LGA where 36 people, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), were killed by suspected herdsmen on Friday night and 40 people injured.
In another attack on Monday, 47 people were killed in Ikobi community of Apa LGA, including the traditional ruler who was killed along with his subjects, followed by the killing of another 51 people in Umogidi community of Otukpo LGA on Wednesday, leaving rural communities in fear of attacks.
Immediately after the conduct of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections, suspected herdsmen resumed attacks on rural communities in Kwande, Guma and Gwer West LGAs in Benue State.
With 134 deaths recorded, Ortom expressed displeasure that IDPs and farming communities in the state had become soft targets for suspected herdsmen.
During his visit to Mgbam community, Ortom lamented the continuous killings, appealing for help from the President.
Survivors are however receiving treatment at the state university teaching hospital in Makurdi.
Buhari, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Saturday condemned the “extreme violence” and killings of scores of people in Benue State within one week.
The President spoke out against 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 (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and military commanders to enhance surveillance on every front and to immediately review the security management in the affected areas.