President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday invoked the name of God as he pleaded with the Benue state government to accommodate “their countrymen”. This is contained in a statement released by his media aide, Femi Adesina, and wherein he promised to bring to book all those who were involved in the conflict.
Buhari, speaking to a delegation made up of the Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, and other stakeholders from the state expressed his government’s readiness to swing into action and ease the fears and pains of the indigenes. He added that this led to the directive handed to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, asking him to relocate to Benue state to arrest the instigators f the violence while protecting the lives and property of the indigenes.
This was confirmed by the state governor, Samuel Ortom, while he was speaking to newsmen after the meeting. The President said, “Your Excellency, the governor, and all the leaders here, I am appealing to you to try to restrain your people. “I assure you that the Police, the Department of State Security and other security agencies had been directed to ensure that all those behind the mayhem get punished.
“I ask you in the name of God to accommodate your countrymen. You can also be assured that I am just as worried, and concerned with the situation.” In his remarks, Ortom said “we will leave here to rebuild confidence in our people”. The Tor-Tiv, Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, said his entire domain had been thrown into mourning due to the incessant attacks. “We want you to put an end to the gruesome situation,’’ he added.
