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From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
Former Governor of Benue state and Senator representing Benue North East Senatorial District, Gabriel Suswam, has said the killings in the state was due to federal government’s ineptitude and neglect of their duties.
According to him, the killing of innocent people in Gbeji, Ukum local government area of Benue shows the nakedness of the federal government.
Recall that suspected herdsmen attack Gbeji community and killed 18 people while others were declared missing. The death toll from the Wednesday invasion has now risen to 36 with several others still said to be missing.
Suswam who visited the attacked community on Friday, to commiserate with his constituents, said “the President has further demonstrated ineptitude and lackadaisical attitude in protecting the lives of the people whom he swore to.
He noted that only one week ago, he had visited Mchia which is the same radius as Gbeji where 22 persons were murdered and several others injured.
He described the incessant killings as unacceptable and unfortunate, saying that it smacks of neglect by the Federal Government on the people.
Suswam who stated time is ripe for the people to rise up and defend themselves from the herder-killers said, “Federal Government have gone to sleep and do not care about the security of the people. These are peasant farmers whose property have been destroyed and their lives have been decapitated.
“I commend the bravery and gallantry of our security agencies but they are overstretched under the circumstance. I cannot sleep in Abuja while our mothers who farm food that we eat are killed in this way.”
Speaking, Governor Samuel Ortom reiterated his call on the Federal Government to arm state security outfit with AK47 to effectively protect the people.
Ortom, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prof. Anthony Ijohor, said the state government is profiling the number of displaced persons for adequate assistance.
