Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has decried the current killing of farmers by suspected herders in Edumoga in the Okpokwu Local Government Area of the state.
Condemning the killing, the governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, said it was barbaric, adding that justice must take full cause.
The statement read in part, “When I started shouting about the menace of killer herdsmen in my state, many people thought I was playing to the gallery.
“Gradually, this has spread to all other parts of the country because the Federal Government has refused to act appropriately and decisively against them. This is the reason why they have continued with impunity.
“It has clearly shown that the killing of these innocent farmers in Edumoga, Okpokwu Local Government is yet another barbaric act by Fulani herdsmen. They must not go unpunished.”
It was gathered that some locals were killed and others whereabout remain unknown during an invasion at the Edumoga LGA in the wee hours of Sunday, by gunmen.
The police authorities confirmed the incident but they did not give the actual numbers of the villagers killed during the attack.
Chairman of Okpokwu LGA, Mrs Amina Audu, told newsmen that locals recovered three more bodies on Monday, making the total casualty figure 13.
Ortom, in his reaction, warned that the peaceful attitude of Benue people who accommodate others must not be taken for granted.
Governor Ortom in his reaction warned against taking the peaceful and accommodating attitude of the Benue people for granted, he stressed that the law must take its course to nab the criminals behind the gruesome attack.
However, Ortom urged the people to remain law-abiding, but also enjoy them to defend themselves against the invaders, adding that the law permits self-defence.
“We are capable of defending ourselves if authorities concerned refuse to do so. We are not cowards; we are just law-abiding,“ he stated.