Herdsmen: Benue Catholic church demands public apology from Akume over statement on killings

The Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Most Rev. Wilfred Anagbe is demanding public apology from Senator George Akume for lying to the public that the Tiv people are killing themselves and not the Fulanis.

He made the demand on Friday November 30th, 2018 at St. Ignatius Quassi Parish Ukpor-Mbalom during a holy mass to mark cleansing of the church where the invading Fulanis attacked and killed 17 worshipers including two priest in April this year.

In a strong warded demand, Bishop Anagbe who recalled how the two priest were gruesomely murdered by the Fulanis want Senator Akume to immediate withdraw his unguided statement as well as tender apology even if not to the church but to him personally as Bishop of Makurdi Diocese.

The Bishop however assured that inspite of the present predicament confronting the Tiv nation, God will triumph over evil in no distant future.

According to the Bishop, “Human life is sacred and only God who is the Supreme Creator has the right to freely take what He gives. It is my believe that those who attack the house of God have no single atom of piety in their heart and therefore should not expect mercy from the Supreme Creator”. He declared.

Governor Samuel Ortom who also spoke urged the Christian community not to be deterred by the callous and demonic forces against the Benue people but be strengthened in their faith in the Almighty God to defeat the insurgents.

Governor Ortom also took strong exception over the recent statement by Senator George Akume reporting to President Mohammdu Buhari that the Tiv people are killing themselves and not the Fulanis who have been claiming responsibilities of various attacks in Benue.

Ortom described as wicked, barbaric and insanity taken too far for a Benue Senator to have made such a sweeping statement that the Tiv people are the ones killing themselves even when the blood tasty “Jihadists” invaded Holy places of worship to carry out ethnic cleansing agenda.

The governor called on the Federal Government to immediately provoke investigation in the circumstances leading to attack on the Mbalom people and other communities in Benue with a view of identifying and bringing the culprits to book.

Ortom announced donation of a standard classroom block at the school which the late Fr. Joseph Gor had started, a contribution of N20m for the development of St. Ignitus Quasi Parrish as well as a functional vehicle for the Parish Priest in the area.

He console those who lost loved ones to take solace in the fact that the dead have only gone to rest with their creator at the appointed hour and will surely rise with Christ on the judgment day.

Recall that on 24 April 2018, there was an attack on the St. Ignatus lwhere two Catholic Priests and 17 worshipers were gruesomely massacred by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

Since after the incidence, the place remain unholy for worship and the Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Rev. Anagbe had put together a consecration mass to reprepare the church for the worship.

Governor Samuel Ortom and Bishop Anagbe are principal speakers at the event who gave touching speeches that threw people into deep sober reflections.