How Ortom caused killings in Benue – Miyetti Allah

By Vera Enenche

Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MACBAN, has accused Governor Samuel Ortom of being responsible for the killings in the state.

Leader of the association in the South East, Alhayi Idris Gidado, stated this while addressing newsmen, yesterday.

The MACBAN leader stated that if Ortom had consulted him before drafting the anti-open grazing bill, he would have advised the governor against it because the bill only succeeded in creating crisis between herdsmen and farmers.

He said: “If I was consulted on the bill, I would have told the government that the approach is wrong.

“What they said is banning cattle grazing and establishment of cattle ranches in Benue State and not what government has done.

“Both the farmers and the cattle leaders are suffering from the violent crisis in Benue state. The government as a matter of urgency should come out with a blue print that will put an end to the killings. The crisis can be resolved through dialogue.

“Fulani herdsmen are seen as the killers in Benue because they are the people who were offended by that obnoxious bill.

“Thousands of cattle have been confiscated by the government while hundreds of Fulanis have been killed in the crisis.

“The Fulanis have no capacity to do what they are being accused of. If they have the capacity, they should have stopped the people who confiscated their cattle and those that killed their brothers.”