‘Killings will stop if Buhari, other Fulani leaders speak to herders’ – Says Benue Deputy Governor

Deputy Governor of Benue State, Benson Abounu has pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari and other prominent Fulani Nigerians to speak on attack by herdsmen on communities.

Speaking when he appeared on Channels Television’s programme, Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, the deputy governor said a message from Mr Buhari, Muhammadu Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto, and Muhammadu Aliyu, Lamido of Adamawa will
deter the herders from committing further destruction.

“One very effective response that I seek is a word from the president of this country concerning what is going on, asking the Fulanis to stop these terrible actions of theirs,” he said.

“I believe this will go a very long way. And also, I put a solemn request to the Sultan of Sokoto, and even to Lamido of Adamawa, who is the worldwide leader of the Fulani, that we need to hear from them.

“Fulani need to hear from them, their own leaders condemning what they are doing and asking them to put a stop to it.

“It is a very simple thing but I believe it will be an effective one. We are yet to hear that, the Fulani are yet to hear that.

Abounu also accused the Fulani leaders of being passive in wake of the weighty destructive activities performed by the herders.

“The body language of the leaders of Fulani in our society today is a very serious issue to be addressed,” he said.

The concerns of Abounu follow a string of fatal attacks on Benue communities. Over 200 people were reportedly killed in the state last month and a lot of Nigerians on Friday took to social media to express their outrage through the BenueUnderAttack hashtag.