The Middle Belt Journalists Forum (MBJF) has expressed shock at the renewed violence in Benue State and called on security agencies, particularly the military, to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.
The forum made this call in a statement signed by the National President, Mark Mayah, and National Secretary, Ladi Emmanuel, and made available to newsmen in Makurdi by the National Publicity Secretary, Shimataver Aondoakaa, on Thursday.
On the night of June 2, 2024, bandits attacked and killed several people in the Borikyo community in Ukum Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
The forum urged Military Authorities, especially the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Christopher Musa, and other top security officials to protect the Middle Belt region from ongoing deadly attacks by armed herdsmen and unknown gunmen, which have plagued several communities in the region, including Plateau, Benue, and Kogi States.
Describing the recurring incidents as unfortunate, barbaric, and tragic, MBJF emphasized that those responsible for the attacks must be held accountable, as the killings in the region have reached monumental proportions.
The forum lamented that the Middle Belt region has been targeted for over two decades and urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to end the bloodshed. They called for the recognition of the region’s sacrifices to keep the country united and condemned labeling the violence as merely farmers/herdsmen conflicts, asserting it is ethnic cleansing aimed at seizing ancestral lands.
MBJF charged the Federal Government to demonstrate the political will necessary to halt the systematic genocide and protect the lives of Nigerians. They also appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Service Chiefs, and the National Security Adviser to swiftly intervene and investigate the persistent killings, and sought humanitarian assistance for those displaced by the conflict.
While sympathizing with the families of those who lost loved ones and property in the attacks, the forum called on the community to remain steadfast and cooperate with security forces to restore lasting peace in the area.
