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From Rose Ejembi and Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
Senior Special Assistance to Governor Samuel Ortom on Animal Husbandry, Alhaji Shehu Tambaya has taken a swipe on the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Garba Shehu, over his statement on the recent killing of Benue people by suspected herdsmen.
It would be recalled that only recently, no fewer than 36 persons were killed and several others injured when suspected armed herdsmen stormed Gbeji community of Ukum Local Government Area of the state.
The President’s Media aide, while reacting to the attack in the said statement, had stated among other things, that, “It is unacceptable for lives to be taken by herdsmen and farmers alike. No one should attack anyone because of their way of life. Neither should anyone take revenge on others for injustice done to them. Both should be held accountable for their actions, and justice delivered.
But reacting swiftly, Tambaya posited that whenever there’s attack by herdsmen on Benue people, Shehu is always fond of portraying the herdsmen as the victims instead of looking at the matter objectively.
“We are talking about an attack by armed herdsmen in which 36 innocent Benue people including police officers, old people and children were gruesomely murdered in cold blood and Garba Shehu is saying something else.
“I hope Shehu remembers that these people in question were sleeping peacefully in their homes when the marauding herdsmen went and attacked them? I also hope that the justice he is talking about will be served judiciously,” Tambaya stated.
He further lamented that in recent times, no week passes by without these armed herders attacking communities in Benue and killing innocent people in their ancestral lands.
Tambaya insisted that no amount of intimidation would pressure the state government to repeal its anti open grazing law or make the people relinquish their ancestral lands to the invaders.
He therefore called on the federal government to ensure that all the perpetrators of the dastardly acts are immediately arrested and made to face the wrath of the law
The Governor’s aide urged the federal government to show more concern for the victims as it ought to, saying Garba shehu should rather advise his boss to fulfill the promises he made to rehabilitate and resettle the victims who are still languishing in IDP camps in the last five years.
