Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai has pledged to deploy soldiers to Benue State to ward off the alleged planned invasion of the state by Fulani herdsmen and militant groups.
It would be recalled that the three major ethnic groups in the state, through the Mdzough U Tiv (MUT), ldoma National Forum and Omi Ny’lgede had alleged threats by Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore to invade the state with herds of cattle to resist the Anti-Open Grazing Law.
President General, MUT, Chief Edward Ujege, who disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Makurdi on Tuesday, said the leadership of the three groups have also written heads of the Police, the Department of State Services, the Navy and the Air Force seeking their support for the successful implementation of the grazing law.
Chief Ujege explained that the ethnic leaders had also petitioned the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate President over the matter to draw their attention to the issue and also canvass their support for the smooth implementation of the law.
He noted that the pledge to deploy troops to Benue was a result of the second leg advocacy visits across the country.
Ujege said, “In addition, the proactive action taken by our socio-cultural organisations has made the Nasarawa Government to take precautionary measures to hinder the herdsmen/militia from using the state as launching pad to invade Benue State.
“The delegation through its advocacy has been able to obtain a pledge from the Chief of Army Staff that troops would be on standby to assist the police in case of an invasion,” the President General explained.
He further stated that “The responses to our advocacy have been very encouraging with about seven states now contemplating the passage and domestication of similar law in their states, we therefore commend Governor Samuel Ortom for setting a revolution that would change livestock breeding and animal husbandry in Nigeria.”
“We appeal to all Benue indigenes to rally round the Governor and give him all the support he requires to make this mission and all his other programmes successful.”
