From ROSE EJEMBI, Makurdi.
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has raised alarm over the continuous invasion of more local government areas in the state the by Fulani herders and their cattle.
The Governor raised the alarm yesterday during a courtesy call on him by a combined team of the National Emergency Management Agency and House of Representatives Committee on Disaster Management who were in the state to commiserate with the government and people of Benue over the Fulani invasion and to donate relief materials to the victims.
He listed the local government areas already under the siege of the invading Fulani mercenaries to include Agatu, Guma, Buruku, Kwande, Logo, Gwer, Gwer-West, Tarka and Makurdi.
While stressing the need for the Fulanis to begin to consider ranching their cattle rather than advocating for grazing routes and grazing reserves, Ortom noted that in other parts of the world, cattle are kept in ranches.
“This is cropping season and our farmers need to go back to farm otherwise, we are calling for famine next year. That is why we are seriously advocating for cattle ranches instead of grazing reserve because the land is no more there. The population of Nigeria has grown far beyond the establishment of grazing reserves.
The Governor who also played host to the Commander, 35 Base Service Group (BSG) of the Nigeria Air Force in Makurdi, Air Commodore Olumide Olatunji decried the influx of Fulani Herdsmen and their cattle on the premises of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM).
“We are calling on foreigners who came from other parts of the world to graze their cattle on our lands to go back and allow the traditional Fulani herders who have lived with us for many years to remain. We are ready to provide them security as they go back to where they came from,” the Governor said.
Earlier in his remark, leader of the delegation, Hon. Ali Isa while commiserating with the state government on the Fulani invasion expressed sadness over by the wanton destruction of lives and property in Agatu and other communities in Benue.
Isa who condemned the Fulani invasion in its entirety noted that the House had passed a resolution directing its Committee on Security to ensure the victims are properly taken care of and also bring a lasting solution to the crisis.