From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

The leadership of Mdzough u Tiv (MUT), a socio cultural organisation in Benue state, has petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to redouble efforts to safeguard the lives, property and ancestral homes of the Benue people from attacks by herdsmen.

The organisation made this call in a statement signed by the President General and Secretary General, CP Iorbee Ihagh (rtd) and Comrade Luther Iorbee, respectively, and made available to newsmen in Makurdi on Friday.

Chief Iorbee who condemned the unfolding threats to lives and property of the people particularly the complicated security situation in Sankera axis and other parts of Benue state, urged the president to apply a more concrete security initiative in the state specifically in the area of herdsmen attacks on innocent Benue farmers in Gwer West, Kwande, Katsina Ala, Logo and Agatu local government areas.

The president general said the developments have the capacity of frustrating the collective good intensions of people and the Government of Benue state aimed at returning peace not just to the Sankera area but the entire Benue state.

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Sankera represents the economic hub for Benue state. The area produces yams and other related crops in a larger quantity that is capable of feeding the state and Nigeria as a nation.

It is said that about 80 per cent of yams produced in the state are predominantly from the area with majority of the youths getting self-employed in commercial farming activities.

Ihagh who commended the efforts of Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Katsina-Ala, Most Rev. Isaac Dugu, in ensuring that normalcy and enduring peace return to Sankera through the employment of the popular non-kinetic strategy on restive youths, said if nothing is done to curtail the herdsmen attacks, the efforts might go to waste.

He commended the youths for demonstrating love for their fatherland and choosing to embrace peace and pave way for dialogue, peace, rehabilitation and consequential reintegration but expressed regret that the Sankera area which was hitherto under the joint control of the Fulani herdsmen and the local bandits resulting to the total collapse of the economic base of the area, is yet to be declared a safe haven with the notorious activities of the herdsmen.