Nigerian Concord Newspaper has
Worried by the devastating effects of armed herders activities in the State which has claimed several lives and displaced many families, members of the Benue State House of Assembly have called on the federal government to grant the request by the governor of the state, Chief Samuel Ortom to acquire arms for the state volunteer guards.
The lawmakers made this task yesterday during an emergency sitting and adopted a motion calling on the State government to liaise with the federal government and other concerned agencies to as a matter of urgency come the aid of victims of armed herders attacks in Gbeji and other communities in the State.
The adoption followed a motion to that effect moved under matters of urgent public importance by the Majority Whip who is also the member representing Ukum State Constituency, Hon. Thomas Mlanga drawing the attention of the House to the renewed attacks on Gbeji community in Ukum local government area which has claimed over Twenty – nine lives, leaving many others injured.
According to the Ukum representative, the unfortunate incident has left many families hopeless and requested the House to as a matter of urgency prevail on the State government to come to the aid of victims of the attacks.
Responding to the motion, Speaker of the 9th Benue Assembly, Rt Hon Titus Uba regretted that from sporadic incidents, armed herders have continued to launch systematic attacks on individuals and communities in the State.
The State number one Lawmaker wondered why the federal government had always given deaf ears to the cries of Benue people over incessant attacks by enemies of the State and called on the government at the centre to grant Governor Ortom’s request to acquire arms for the recently launched Community Volunteer Guards to assist the conventional security in defending Benue people.
He also called on security operatives in the State to mount a comprehensive surveillance at the affected areas to prevent further attacks and also Carry out full – scale investigation of the heinous act with a view to arresting the perpetrators.
Also on Thursday, the House also adopted a motion of urgent public importance moved by member representing Tiev State Constituency, Rt Hon Dominic Ucha drawing the attention of the House to the deplorable State of Federal roads in the State.
In that light, the House resolved to prevail on National Assembly members from the State to fully investigate why even the Federal roads awarded for rehabilitation have been abandoned by the contractors.
A minute silence was also observed by the House in honour of the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Fuminiyi Afuye who died on Wednesday, 19th October, 2022 and those who lost their lives in the renewed attacks on Benue communities.