Insecurity: Professors lament over incessant killings in Benue

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

A  non profit and non-political organization under the forum of AYATUTU Professors, at the weekend bemoaned the failure of the tiers of government in Benue State in protecting lives and property of the Tiv people and Benue State citizens in general. 

The forum, a non profit and non-political organization who made this known after an emergency meeting held in Makurdi, said despite the effort made by different tiers of government, they have failed in their responsibility to deal with the insecurity situation of the State.

They further decried that the ongoing killings in Benue State by the marauding armed Fulani herdsmen and their sponsors is for the purposes of land grabbing, disruption of the economy, the culture and education of the people, mining of minerals amongst others. 

The Professors agreed that in the immediate, there is the need for community approach to security, self-help, which must be done within the framework of careful post-conflict management of its complexities.

They stressed the need to mobilize and organize the people to defend their lives, land and the future wellbeing of their children against ambitious land grabbers working in cohort with some power-seeking, disoriented, ambitious but self-centered politicians and traditional rulers.

The communiqué which was signed by the Chairman, Board of Trustees & Council of Management Prof. Tor Joe Iorapuu, and secretary, Prof. Simon Verlumun Irtwange ,called for the expansion of the role of Benue State Bureau of Homeland Security to include, Farming Communities Protection.

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They further recommended for an annual levy of one thousand naira for all taxable adults in Tiv land and Benue State in general for the funding of the activities of the renamed Bureau of Homeland Security and Farming Communities Protection.

The Forum encouraged the Tiv and Benue people to remain focused and united, maintaining that the era of the attitude of a community for myself is gone.

The communique’ reads in part: “The longer we journey on the road to unity, the more sense of belonging grows and deepens. This is the only way we can collectively challenge and fight this deliberate but unprovoked humiliation.

“The Forum encourages the Governor of Benue State Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia and all the Paramount Traditional Rulers to keep their focus on this uncomfortable cross.

“The Forum equally encourages all the National and State Legislature of Benue to speak, act urgently and interrupt their comfort zones to deal with these potential whispers of war”, the communique stated.