Benue Herdsmen Attack: Group To Meet NSA

In a bid to end the spate of killings in the area, stakeholders from Benue South Senatorial District have resolved to send a delegation to the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno.

This was made known in a communique made available to journalists on Monday by the Chief Palace Scribe, Onuminya  Odoba.

The meeting was at the instance of the Chairman of Idoma Area Traditional Council, the Ochidoma, His Royal Majesty, John Elaigwu, following the recent killings in parts of the land.

They resolved to present their concern to the NSA for onward relay to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

Igbobi and Umogidi communities in the Apa and Otukpo LGAs in the Benue South Senatorial District were attacked last week by suspected herders leading to the death of about 56 people within the space of three days.

The meeting, which was attended by several sons and daughters of the area, also resolved to set up an Idoma Local Orientation Platform to champion the Idoma unity drive, especially through arts and poetry.

“That this meeting would send a high-powered Idoma stakeholders delegation to the Office of the National Security Adviser to properly situate our case and the dire need of our people for onward transmission to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Youths and Community Engagement – the youths and communities would be engaged and sensitised not to take laws into their hands, but to always stay vigilant to spot odd faces and strange movements within their communities.

“Determinate and stop indigenous schemers of our common patrimony. An Idoma proverb suggests that it is the rats in the house that invites the stray rats home.

“To establish an Idoma Development, Economic and Security Committee that will advocate the Idoma cause from an organic and organised perspective.

“Suspend and investigate any chief indicted in shady dealings with marauders and militias.

“To forestall animosity, every dealing in exchange of lands and/or fishing ponds between (individuals or groups) indigenes and settlers alike must be duly certified by the council’s chairpersons through the lands and survey departments”, a statement from the convergence reads.