By Peter Duru, Makurdi 

Selected elder statesmen from the 23 Local Government Areas, LGAs, of Benue state have berated the 52 Fulani leaders who recently petitioned the Presidency blaming Governor Samuel Ortom for the blast that killed about 40 supposed pastoralists, at Akwanaja in Doma Local Government Area, LGA, of Nasarawa State saying such false and misleading accusation was unacceptable and unstatesmanlike. 

The elders observed that “such an assertion coming from elders whom we hitherto, erroneously considered nationalists is even more disturbing. As elders, we should be guided by the truth and must reasonably apply caution in matters of security and ethnicity in this country.” 

Addressing the media weekend in Makurdi on the Doma LGA incident, the group of elders through their spokesman, Dr. Dr. Laha Dzever expressed shock at the magnitude of false allegations leveled against Governor Ortom and the Benue Livestock Guards, by the deposed Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido led group of 52 Fulani leaders. 

According to the Benue elders “most disturbing is the hasty conclusion that the Governor and the people of Benue state and the legally and constitutionally established Livestock Guards are involved in the incident at Akwanaja. 

“Nothing can be further from the truth.Mention was made by them of the use of drones, jets and aerial bombardments, a feat which can only be achieved by the military which obviously is not controlled by the Benue State Government or any of its functionaries. 

While noting that the account of the Fulani leaders was skewed in favour of the pastoralists, the Benue elders noted that “as at August 2021, Nigeria had recorded 8, 343 casualties through herders’ attacks on farmers with Benue State alone accounting for 2,539 deaths representing 33 percent of the total in 303 attacks by herdsmen. 

“On this, the deposed Emir Sanusi and his cohorts made no comment. Current figures in Benue State have exceeded 6,000 deaths, and as we speak 18 LGAs in Benue have been partly or wholely taken over and occupied by Funlani herdsmen, sending over 2.7milliom indigenes to IDPs Camps and other safer locations.” 

While absolving the government and people of Benue of the Akwanaja incident, the elders urged Nigerians to desist from celebrating or be indifferent to the killing of people of any ethnic group or religion in the country. 

They expressed disappointment with “the Sanusi led group’s call for survivors to ‘exercise’ their right of self-defense by whatever ‘means available’ which is a threat to peace instead of suggesting peaceful solutions. 

“Hence we condemn and protest the persistent and deliberate campaign of calumny against the person of Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State by Fulani groups like Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Fulani Nationality Movement (FUNAM).” 

The leaders alleged that “it is on record that these groups have justified, supported and even taken responsibility for the violent killings in Nigeria and particularly Benue State including the over seven assassination attempts on Governor Samuel Ortom. 

“We are aware of the renewed threats by the Fulani herdsmen to attack parts of Benue State particularly Gwer West LGA. We call on security agencies to act swiftly to forestall the impending attacks. 

“We do not only agree with the formation of a judicial panel of enquiry to unearth the incidence but also call for continuous dialogue and restoration of communal peace. We emphasise that when Governor Ortom speaks, he does so on behalf of the Benue people and any attack on him is an attack on all Benue people. 

“It should be clear to everyone that Benue State stands wholely with their Governor in all his efforts to protect his people who elected him into office, therefore attempts by any group of people to distract him will remain futile.”