Benue State Lost 1,878 People In Three Years Of Herdsmen Killings– Governor Ortom
The Oasis Reporters
July 06, 2017
Benue State has lost over 1,878 people, killed by Fulani herdsmen within three years in the state. Mr. Samuel Ortom who is the governor of the Middle Belt State of Benue made this assertion on Wednesday .
The governor also added that 750 persons were critically injured, 200 persons still missing with over 99,427 households affected in the numerous attacks by herdsmen in various places in the state.
Ortom stated this when he received the Country Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees, Edward Kallon, and his team, in his office.
The governor stated that over N95bn worth of property were destroyed in 2014 alone across 10 local government areas of the state by Fulani herdsmen declaring that the attacks on the agrarian communities of the Benue valley poses great threat to food security of the nation.
“For over a decade, the people of Benue State have noticed the influx of armed herdsmen who have violently attacked many communities in the state,” he said.
“Between 2013/2016 alone, Fulani herdsmen killed more than 1,878 men, women and children in cold blood from 12 local government areas of Benue State. Another 750 were seriously wounded while 200 are missing. Over 99,427 households were affected in Benue State and property worth billions of naira destroyed.
“In 2014 alone, the destruction recorded across 10 local governments in Benue State exceeded N95bn.”
The governor, called on the UN to support the state towards the implementation of lasting solutions to insecurity, violence and displacement of the people of the state.
Benue is mainly an agrarian state which supplies a variety of food produce and fruits to the entire country. Some of it’s yam produce is exported outside of the country to European destinations
