Friday, March 29, 2024

Benue killings is grand plan by Fulani Herdsmen to exterminate Tiv people – Mdzough U Tiv

Mdzough U Tiv, Kaduna State Chapter, has observed that there is a grand plan by Fulani herdsmen to exterminate Tiv people from their God given land.

Terzungwe Samuel Ali and Shimakyaa Iorkyase, President General and Secretary of Mdzough U Tiv, in a press statement in Kaduna said, “In their quest to resist the anti-open grazing legislation already operational in Benue State and take over the State as threatened on 23rd October 2017 and reported by the Leadership Newspaper of 24th October, 2017, on 1st of January 2018 at about 10:00am, Fulani Herdsmen mindlessly attacked peaceful and harmless Church Goers in Gaambe-Tiev, Ayilamo and Turan in Logo Local Government Area.

“On the same day, in Nongov district of Guma Local Government Area, Umenger, Tse-Akor, and Tomatar near Tse-Abi were ruthlessly attacked; killing over 59 people with over two hundred injured and properties worth hundreds of millions smashed.

”We voted massively for the APC led federal government and cannot accept the killing of our wives, Children, brothers and sisters as the dividend.

“We, unequivocally stand with Our Governor, His Excellency Dr. Samuel Ortom, the government and people of Benue State over the full implementation of the anti -open grazing law – People who have livestock should ranch as it is applicable in most civilised countries of the world. We are Farmers and cannot allow cows to take over our farms!

“We are in total agreement with Distinguished Senator Shehu Sani when he said, ‘Helmsmen must confront Herdsmen. One minute silence and repeated words of condolences and sympathy cannot address the problem or end the bloodshed’.

“We cannot continue to watch our harmless brothers and sisters being wiped off maliciously.”

Mdzough U Tiv, therefore, urged the federal government to declare Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore and its leadership a terrorist group.

It called on the Chairman of Benue Traditional Council, HRM, Orcivirigh Chief Prof. James Ortese Ayatse, the Tor Tiv V to revoke the title of Zege Mule U Tiv given to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Nigeria as the Mule is not providing us with the expected shield.

It demanded that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari personally visit to see the level of destruction and console the government and people of Benue State.

Mdzough U Tiv observed that the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore having been proscribed as a terrorist group be arrested and prosecuted to prove that the federal government has not hands in the killing.

It condemned in strongest terms the statement credited to the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Idris Ibrahim that the planned genocide in Benue State was a communal dispute.

“This is the most unprofessional statement of the year,” the group stated.

“We therefore refused to accept the claim by Alhaji Garus Gololo (Benue State Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association) that Tiv men rustled 1000 Fulani cows and as such they came back killing innocent people in retaliation. Where on earth is human lives a replacement for stolen cows?

“The Federal Government should investigate the immediate and remote causes with a view to bringing to book the perpetrators and compensating the victims.

“The Security agents should match words with action.

“We call on well-meaning and spirited individuals to provide relief material to the displaced persons in the various camps across the state.

“We therefore commiserate with the families of the victims and pray God to accept the repose of the departed souls,” the statement observed.

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