•••Says Over 5000 Benue People Killed, 1.5 Million Displaced Since 2011
Attah Ede, Makurdi
Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, on Thursday, formally launched the newly established State-owned security outfit code-named Benue Community Volunteer Guards.
He vowed to frontally confront herdsmen, saying’enough is enough’of killing, maiming and raping Benue women.
The Governor made the vow during the launching and passing out parade of first batch of 500 Community Volunteer Guards held at the IBBS Square, Makurdi.
He explained that the establishment of the State Security outfit is in response to the failure by the Federal Government by live up to its responsibility.
He stressed that responsible State Governments have been forced to step in to complement the efforts of the official Security Agencies.
‘As a State Government, this is one expensive investment that we would have preferred to avoid if it was not forced upon us by the perpetual siege that has been mounted on our land by vicious Fulani terrorists.
“Their reign of terror has led to the displacement of over 1.5Million persons from their ancestral homes and communities who are now living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camps.
“The recurrent and wanton attacks by terrorist Fulanis on unarmed and innocent people of Benue State has claimed over 5,000 lives from 2011 to date.
“We are ready to wage war against this evil with the last pint of our blood nobody can intimidate us.
“Benue State Government is going to apply for a License to legally procure AK47, AK49 and other sophisticated weapons for the Benue State Volunteers Guards to enable them tackle these murderous terrorists effectively.
“Over 30 operational vehicles and 200 communication gadgets have been procured in addition to motorcycles to patrol the hinterlands”, Ortom intimated.
He urged the Guards to abide by their rules of engagement and complement the efforts of conventional security agencies, warning sternly that anyone founding wanting, will be sacked and prosecuted.
