From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
The three Socio-cultural organisations in Benue State; the Mdzough U Tiv, Ochetoha K’Idoma and Omi Ny’Igede, have called on the international community to place the former Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, on the terrorists’ watch list.
The organisation made the call in a statement co-signed by the Chief CP, Iorbee Ihagh (retd), President General, Mdzough U Tiv, and Chairman of the three sociocultural groups in Benue State, AVM Tony Adokwu (retd), President General, Ochetoha K’Idoma and Dr Ben Okpa, President, Omi Ny’Igede.
The association, responding to the allegations by Sanusi Lamido Sanusi against Governor Samuel Ortom on the killing of terrorists in Nasarawa by the military, said the deposed emir and his co-travellers are killers of Benue people and there was need to keep a close tab on his activities, the activities of his collaborators and the armed herdsmen and hold them accountable for their actions.
The association said: “Sanusi, the deposed Emir of Kano, twisted the facts in the matter when he alleged that the attack on the terrorists was carried out by the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom and/or by extension, the Benue State Livestock Guards and the State Volunteer Guards.”
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They expressed shock that even though the military has claimed responsibility for the air strike, Sanusi and his cohorts are hell-bent on making the allegations on the governor stick.
“We have also identified the desperate attempt by Sanusi and his band of supporters to give the attack on the terrorists an ethnic coloration, thereby, setting Benue State up against the armed herdsmen invasion.”
They said placing the cost of one cow at N1 million is a desperate attempt to cause disaffection, pick a fight and get a reason to attack Benue communities. They pointed out that since after the false allegations against Governor Ortom, several reprisals have been carried out on Tiv communities, both in Benue and Nasarawa states, saying the terrorists are now gathering at the border between Benue and Nasarawa, preparatory to launch further attacks on unsuspecting communities in Benue State.
“So, we want to state unequivocally and with emphasis that Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and his co-travellers are the sponsors and, by extension, the killers of the people of Benue State.
“The Federal Government has always said it was on the verge of releasing the names of sponsors of terrorism in the country, and we are making it clear that the FG does not have to look any further, because it is our firm belief that Sanusi is one of the sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria.
“We call on the security agencies to arrest, question and subsequently hold Sanusi and his cohorts responsible for the attacks that have already taken place as well as any further attacks on the people of Benue State,” they said.
They also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take deliberate and decisive steps to “stop this ethnic cleansing, orchestrated and sponsored by Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and his co-travellers and to give the military, especially Operation Whirl Stroke, a matching order and beef up security at the border towns surrounding Benue State to forestall further reprisals, which may lead to a breakdown of law and order.