By Dansu Peter
The BYF said such statements are capable of creating tension in the state.
The BYF in a statement issued by its President, Terrence Kuanum said the group with the name Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore had in a shameful outing after another evil gathering said to be a meeting in Abuja asked security agencies to hold Governor Ortom responsible for what they described as continuous conflicts in Benue.
The BYF said It is indeed shocking that the apex socio-cultural body of Fulani ethnic nationality who have variously taken responsibility for the genocide in Benue after openly declaring war on the people because of the promulgation and implementation of the Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law of the state are now the ones crying blue murder.
"That the group accused Governor Ortom of confiscating cattle belonging to Fulanis in Benue's borders with Nasarawa and Taraba states when of a truth, the Fulanis are the once unleashing terror on the people in a bid to take over their lands is another irony.
"The terrorists masquerading as herders have no moral rights to question the anti-grazing law of the Benue state government, especially as they are known for their penchant for breaking laws because they enjoy the backing of high-profile politicians particularly those of Fulani extraction.
"The merchants of death also need to know that there is nothing as retrogressing as calling for the development of 415 grazing reserves in the country as nations desirous of developing have moved past archaic and anti-development processes and patterns such as the ones the Fulanis are calling for.
"That the criminal elements were deployed into Nigeria by some undemocratic forces to help in ethnic cleansing of people in the Benue valley and annex their land does not mean the Fulanis should think that the country belongs to them.
"The Benue Youth Forum once again calls on relevant security agencies to arrest the leadership of the clandestine terrorist group, especially the President, Abdullahi Bodejo and National Secretary, Saleh Alhassan for coordinating the genocide in Benue state through their words and actions.
"We also condemn in totality recent comments by former Bauchi state governor, Isa Yuguda in which he alleged that Governor Ortom made a law to chase Fulani herdsmen out of Benue.
"Governor Yuguda in that interview on an Channels Television also justified and supported the incessant killing of innocent farmers in Benue and other parts of the country by armed Fulani militia claiming to be herdsmen.
"That too calls for the urgent attention of security agencies as Yuguda presents himself as a co-sponsor of the carnage being perpetrated by his kinsmen across the country.
"The BYF also wants President Muhammadu Buhari to grant the request by Governor Ortom to procure weapons for the newly created Benue Community Volunteer Guards to enable them protect the people.
"The Forum equally expects the President to give the security agencies the go-ahead to tackle the security situation in Benue without protecting the Fulani militia who have made the state a killing field.
"It is also imperative for the armed herdsmen who take delight in violently resisting laws in places they find themselves to be reminded that the Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law has come to stay and no amount of sponsorship of terrorism in the state can change the situation.
"We therefore pledge our support for Governor Ortom and urge him not to be deterred by the antics of those callous agents of satan who are synonymous with bloodshed as they shall fall by their own swords, now or later" the group said
No comments