Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has said that the attacks by herdsmen on Benue communities which has left over 50 people dead are acts of criminality. He has therefore assured Nigerians that the culprits will be fished out and dealth with.

Buhari spoke through the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazzau who represented him during a condolence visit to Benue State on Thursday. Addressing the state’s Governor, Samuel Ortom through the Minister, the President said:

“ We feel your pain especially our mothers who bore us in their wombs. Government will not sit down and watch people to be killed and their property destroyed. Anyone found wanting deserves maximum punishment.

” This is a sad period in our nation’s history but I assure you that security agencies are doing a lot to contain the situation. We will stop at nothing in fishing our perpetrators of these acts and deal with them.”

 

Even so, Governor Ortom did not look so assured by the assurances being tendered by the Federal Government delegation led by Dambazzau. Indeed, he revealed that he had personally written a letter to the Inspector General of Police over the security threats in the state before the attacks took place. Dambazzau however said that he was yet to be briefed about the letter.

 

Speaking further, Ortom told the delegation that President Buhari needs to demonstrate his resolve by ensuring the immediate arrest of the leaders of the herdsmen who go under the name of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore. According to him, those leaders had earlier issued threats of attack to the government and people of Benue State.

 

Said Ortom: “These people that issue threats are staying with you there in Abuja. We want you to arrest them and make them to account for their words.”