Editors Decry Benue Killings, Urge Flushing Of Hideouts

The Idoma Editors, a group of media professionals drawn from various organisations in the country, has condemned the recent killings in Benue State by gunmen suspected to be terrorists or killer herdsmen.

A statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the group’s acting president, Adoyi M. Aba, said the killing of innocent people in the state had assumed a monumental proportion with the incidents in Umogidi village, Guma and Agan IDP camps.

“We have undertaken a thorough evaluation of this sustained violence against the peace-loving people of Benue State and wish to unequivocally condemn the brazen ex-communication of lives by these suspected terrorists who masquerade as herders.

“We’re particularly distrustful of the spread of these attacks to more communities in Benue South as the area is historically known to be peaceful, friendly and an excellent host haven for other Nigerians. We’re even taken aback by these well-orchestrated attacks that led to the death of no fewer than 50 and injuries to many others in Umogidi village at Adoka District of Otukpo local government area of the state.

“We also denounce the unprovoked attacks on innocent displaced people in the IDP camps in both Guma and Agan communities in Makurdi. These dastardly acts of killing defenceless and vulnerable people, including women and children in the IDP camps can only be carried out by blood-thirsty demons masquerading as humans,” the statement said.

It added that though the governorship election had already produced a governor-elect, the group advised the incumbent governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, not to abdicate his constitutional function of ensuring the safety of lives and property in the state until his tenure ends.

The group added; “We are not unaware of the enormous security challenge that have limited the progress and development of the state in the last eight years, but that should not stop the government from functioning optimally.

“We, however, thank Governor Ortom for his several efforts made to abate human carnage, even as we hope that the in-coming governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iornem Alia, won’t waste time in re-setting the security architecture to insulate the state from further external aggression.

“We also call on the federal government to approve a special military exercise for the state where all suspected forests, mountains and other hidden zones in and around the state could be flushed. It is surprising that Benue, blessed with a plethora of military formations, remains unsafe for habitation.”