Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom has urged the federal government to proscribed all militants groups in Nigeria as was done in the case of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), given that the Global Terrorism Index ranks Fulani militia as the fourth deadliest terrorist group in the world.
Ortom who delivered a lecture titled, “INSECURITY IN NIGERIA: RESTORING PEACE, UNITY AND PROGRESS” to commemorate the 2021 press week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Correspondents Chapel also called President Muhammadu Buhari to eschew favouritism and serve all Nigerians as he promised when he was first voted into power in 2015.
The Benue state government who delivered his lecture virtually from the government house Makurdi said Nigerians must rise up together as a nation to confront the challenges of these times to avert the country’s drift to anarchy and disintegration, a situation that sycophants and praise-singers may unwittingly hideaway from us.
According to him, “The Federal Government should immediately implement the National Livestock Transformation Plan, NLTP, in line with the recommendation of the National Economic Council. Consequently, all funds released for the implementation of the RUGA policy should be recovered and rechannelled towards NLTP implementation.
“The Federal Government should direct the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to enforce Prohibition of Open Grazing Laws passed by various States of the federation.
“The Federal Government should abolish the Open Visa policy and direct relevant security agencies to ensure full compliance with the ECOWAS Protocol on Transhumance.
”The Federal Government should immediately pay compensation to families of persons killed and whose properties have been destroyed by armed Fulani herdsmen in various communities across the country.
“The Federal Government should publicly condemn the atrocities perpetrated by armed herdsmen, arrest and prosecute the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore and other Fulani Socio-cultural groups who have consistently admitted to the wanton killings and destruction of communities across the country. These include Husaini Yusuf Bosso (National Vice President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Herders Association), Badu Salisu Ahmadu and Umar Amir Shehu, (President and Secretary of Fulani Nationality Movement), Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodejo and Engr. Saleh Alhassan (President and Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore) along with their sponsors. Leaders and sponsors of criminal gangs, cultists, and militia groups must also be identified, arrested and prosecuted,” he said.
He further urged the FG to support the resettlement and rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons as a result of herdsmen atrocities in all States of the country, while calling on every patriot to support security agencies with intelligence gathering about criminals and their activities.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of FCT Correspondent Chapel, Philip Nyam said that journalists are committed to proffering solution to the lingering security situation in the country the need for the topic of the press week
