Abuja – Members of Benue caucus in the House of Representatives, have decried the series of killings in the state and called on the Federal Government to intervene to address the situation.
Leader of the caucus, Rep. Oker Jev, made the call on Friday in Abuja while addressing newsmen.
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He alleged that the Federal Government had not made any concrete move to stop the killings in some communities in the state, since 2013.
He also alleged that an investigative panel purportedly constituted by the Federal Government to inquire into the killings, had not been made public.
The lawmaker expressed concern that nobody had been arrested since the attacks began, adding that the recent reaction of the government to the killings was belated.
“We condemn the belated reaction of the Federal Government who broke the silence a week after over 500 people were killed and ten villages razed in Agatu area of the state.
“It is curious that up till today, the investigative panel purportedly constituted by the Federal Government to inquire into the attacks has not been made public or inaugurated,” he said.
Jev, who questioned the sources of ammunition used by the herdsmen, expressed dismay that those behind the killings had not been arrested.
He warned that the hospitality and accommodating nature of the Benue people must not be abused by those behind the killings.
He added that the fact the people of Benue were accommodating, does not mean they were weak, stressing that they were entitled to be protected by the Federal Government as the constitution stipulates.
In his remarks, a member of the caucus, Rep. Ezekiel Adaji, urged the Federal Government to establish an intervention fund to address the plight of the affected people,
He said the call had become necessary due to the damages done to the communities.
“There is need to rebuild schools, hospitals, homes and other social infrastructure to facilitate the reintegration of displaced people to their communities,” he said. (NAN)