Conference of Benue Journalists (CBJ) has condemned Tuesday’s reported attack on Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue state by an armed group suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.
The group, in a statement by its chairman, Emmanuel Iffer, yesterday in Abuja, condemned the attack and, again, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to urgently take steps to arrest the situation.
According to the statement, the situation is gradually taking a very dangerous dimension with the possibility of escalating into a full war against the peace-loving people of Benue.
The statement said: “As a group, we totally condemn the dastardly act of aggression that is being perpetuated against the people of Benue, especially with the yesterday’s reported attack on the governor, Gabriel Suswam, who was on his way to commiserate with victims of earlier attacks.
“President Goodluck Jonathan must, as a matter of urgency, not only order the deployment of security personnel, but to ensure that the situation is brought under total control, before it becomes too late.”
The group further warned that failure to contain the attacks was capable of posing serious security challenges for the country, considering the place and location of Benue state, as well as its proximity to Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Similarly, the statement called for full investigation of alleged involvement of some military personnel in some of the attacks, especially the attacks in Jato Aka, Kwande local government area of the state, where some army personnel were said to have been apprehended by youths of the area.
“We also insist that a full scare investigation must be conducted into the alleged involvement of some army personnel in the attacks, especially in Jato Aka, Kwande, and the outcome must also be made public, in addition to meting out appropriate punitive measures to culprits.”
