‎Buruku Community Leaders Want Buhari To Visit Attack Scene

Community leaders and survivors of last weekend attack on Mbayon-Tombu village of Buruku local government in Benue, where 13 people were killed, have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to visit scene of the attack for an impact assessment of the atrocities committed by herdsmen.

The community leaders made the call on Tuesday, following allegations that the security operatives deserted their duty post in Mbayon-Tombu by 5.00pm, only for the armed herdsmen to attack before nightfall.

But the State Governor, Mr Samuel Ortom, is not taking the allegation against security operatives likely, as a meeting with security chiefs was called to seek explanation to the desertion.

Thousands of internally displaced persons from over nine wards in Buruku local government, are in the open square, haven fled their homes last Saturday night.

Herdsmen bearing arms, according the survivors, have so far killed 13 persons and destroyed large farms and economic trees, leading to total abandonment of the villages.

Fish Them Out

No presence of security operatives and the River Buruku could hold the aggressors back, as they fight to take over the rich green field and the river for pasturing their herds.

School activities and Sunday services have long been abandoned by the community members for fear of attack with local hospitals and businesses shut down.

While the district head of Mbayon-Tombu accounted for the number of lives lost in the communities, a local clergy spoke, on the impact of the herdsmen attack on education and worship places.

The attack on Mbayon-Tombu could have been prevented if the security men posted to the community had not left their duty post, local sources told Channels Television.

The meeting between the Governor and security operatives was however, private but the Governor, appealed to President Buhari to step into the matter once and for all.

While the attacks rage across Benue communities, claiming lives, millions of property and leaving huge farm produce destroyed, a real food crisis stairs the country, as Benue state account for 30 per cent food supply nationwide.

President Buhari had ordered security chiefs in the nation to address the issue and bring the activities of armed herdsmen to an end.

He vowed to fish them out.