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From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Benue State, has condemned, in strong terms, the attack on innocent citizens by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen militia.
Secretary of the association, Ibrahim Galma, who made the condemnation in Makurdi, yesterday, said his association was working with security agencies and All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), to return peace to the state.
Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen militia have launched several attacks on innocent Benue people, killing about 100 farmers in several communities in Apa, Otukpo, Logo and Guma Local Government Areas.
The association, while regretting the attacks, said: “We condemn the attack in totality. We, MACBAN, are working hard, together with AFAN in the state as well as security agencies, to make sure that peace and harmony are restored in the state.
Galma regretted that despite their efforts “some bad people are still causing problems, killing here and there.” He urged security agencies to fish them out and bring them to book, so that the world will know who they are.
He further expressed the hope that the new elected government of Rev. Father Hyacinth Alia will change the situation and narration of the state to a better Benue.
He prayed: “The relationship between the herders and farmers will be restored, so that harmony and peaceful coexistence between the two parties will be established.”
He declared the association’s commitment to work with the incoming administration, saying: “We have full support, respect and hope for the incoming administration. The bad elements are still causing problems in the state. We, the MACBAN, on behalf of our people in the entire Benue, condemned what happened recently in Otukpo and Guma LGA in totality.
“We are not in support of the killings. We are for peace and we hope to give the new administration maximum support, so that peace will return to the state.”
He also condoled with the government of Benue State, Governor Samuel Ortom, all stakeholders in the state and families of the victims, adding, “We feel pain like they fill, and we mourn with them. No one of us is happy with what has happened, and we pray to God to give strength to Nigeria security, President Muhammadu Buhari to find the perpetrators of the killings until justice is established for the victims of the killings.”
He urged the security to, “at whatever cost, do their best to find the perpetrators, so that the world will know the truth.”
