Herdsmen attacks: Buhari not behind killings in Benue – Youth group

The Benue Youths Forum, the umbrella body of all youth groups in Benue State has exonerated President Muhammadu Buhari as sponsor of the incessant killings in the state.

According to them, the claim in some quarters that President Buhari was sponsoring the attacks in the state was a clear case of giving the dog a bad name to hang it.

The youth group also pledged their total support for the ongoing military operation in the state aimed at ending the fast growing spate of terrorism in the Benue valley.

It also commended the efforts of the military in curtailing the growing spate of local armed conflicts in the state.

In a statement read by the National President, Comr. Terrence Kuanum, the youth particularly lauded the Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai led Nigerian Army in the manner they have carried out their operation so far which has yielded positive results.

It further encouraged the Nigerian Army to intensify efforts to flush out all criminal elements operating within and from outside the State.

He said, “We totally support the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu

Buhari’s fight against terrorism and applaud its accompanying achievements as so -recorded in the major arrest at the Benue border.

“We totally dissociate ourselves from accusations against the president as the sponsor of the killer,” he added.

They specifically noted that the recent arrest of the confessed killer of Governor Ortom’s aide which has been an issue of worrying to the state and the breaking of prominent robbery and kidnap rings in the region were worthy of commendation.

“We will always support their noble efforts to reinstate peace in the nation and Benue in particular. It is our earnest belief that this recent military campaign will bring lasting peace to the Benue valley”.

Recall that the Military had during had arrested the killer of an aide to Governor Samuel Ortom, Denen Igbana.

It said the operation with the code name: ‘Operation Whirl Storm, ‘OPWS’ that cut across Benue and Nasarawa States has led to the arrest of the suspect, identified as Shima Sange-ver.