Benue: Oche sues for peace between Fulani, Ado communities, condemns attacks, vows to bring criminals to book

Hon James Oche, the Executive Chairman of Ado Local Government Area of Benue, has called on Adolites and Fulani herders to sheath their swords and embrace peace.

He reassured them of his administration’s commitment to fish out criminal elements within the area and bring them to book. Adding that securing lives and property of all the people resident in his domain is his top priority.

Oche who stated this at an emergency meeting between the Fulanis and stakeholders of the Council, on Tuesday, condemned the gruesome murder of an elderly Fulani man identified as Mohammed Isa at Ekile Council Ward of the council and bandits’ attack on an indigenous woman in Utonkon.

He commended the Fulanis for conducting themselves peacefully after the sad incident adding that his administration would do everything humanly possible to arrest and hand over the perpetrators to law enforcement agencies to bear the consequences of their inordinate action. He further stressed that, contrary to reports making the rounds, the attack on a woman in Utonkon was not a reprisal from the Fulanis.

The council boss further stated that preliminary investigations had revealed that some non indigenes desperately seeking to instigate crisis between the Ado people and the Fulanis were behind the dastardly act and also charged security agencies to be proactive. He expressed happiness over the Fulanis resolve to remain peaceful and also volunteer information among the bad eggs within them, even as they refuted any alleged form of reprisal attacks.
He also reemphasized his government’s commitment to sustaining the implementation of the State’s Anti Open Grazing Law.

Yakubu Mohammed, a brother to the deceased expressed his delight at the swift response of the government and thereafter gave account of how the body of his brother was recovered between Ndigwe and Ataloga and appealed to the government to bring the perpetrators to book.

On his part, Mallam Ibro, the Chairman of Fulanis in the area charged the security agencies to fish out those who carried out the dastardly act and further commended the council for the efforts put in place so far.

The meeting had in attendance the Executive Chairman, Hon James Oche, The DPO Ado LGC, Council Secretary, Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman, Councilor representing Ekile Ward, Special Adviser to the Governor on Cooperative Hon Ugbala and Hon Augustine Ogbu.

Others were the Third Class Chief representing Zone B Chief Ogenyi Ocheme, District Head of Ijigban Chief Christopher Onuma, Ward Head of Ekile Chief Emeruwa Ochapa, Commander Homeland defense Ado LGC, Commander Livestock Guard and other security operatives while the delegation of the Fulanis was led by Mr Ibro Chairman of Fulani, Adamu Jerry, Secretary Miyetti Allah and a host of other Fulani stakeholders.

In another development, the Executive Chairman of Ado Local Government, James Oche has condemned the ensuing hostilities between the youths in Akpoge Ogbilolo, Agila and has cautioned in strong terms that, anyone investigated and discovered to have partook in same will have himself to blame. He has urged the youths to shun restiveness even as the police and other security agencies have taken over the situation and restored calmness.