Obasanjo visits Benue, describes killings as shocking, senseless (Photos)

macfranc007 March 10, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 David Oladele

- Former president Olusegun Obasanjo has paid solidarity visit to Benue state

- Obasanjo is expected to visit the mass burial grave site and also meet stakeholders at the government house during his visit

- Governor Ortom and other top government officials received the former president to the state

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday, March 10, arrived in Makurdi, the Benue state, to condole with the government and people over herdsmen’s attacks, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Since the deaths caused by herdsmen’s attacks, the state has become a Mecca of sort to all politicians, opposition inclusive.

President Muhammadu Buhari is also expected to visit the state early next week.

OBJ pays a solidarity visit to Benue state. Photo credit: Channel Television

Obasanjo who landed Makurdi on Saturday on solidarity visit to the governor and people, was received at the airport by the state Governor Samuel Ortom and other top government officials in the state.

Not less than 158 persons have been reported killed in the state as a result of sustained herdsmen attacks in the state since the January 11th, an event that led to a mass burial and protest by youths in Makurdi, the state capital.

The former President is expected to visit the mass burial grave site and also meet stakeholders at the government house.

OBJ pays a solidarity visit to Benue state. Photo credit: Channel Television

He said: ''It is sad beyond description and that is why I have taken it upon myself, having been to Maiduguri where we had a meeting of Zero Hunger Forum. If circumstances were normal, the Benue governor would have been with us. So, I am here to pay a condolence visit and share the sadness of Benue people with them.

''I felt coming to the graveside and laying a wreath will express my sorrow and my sympathy and empathy with the family, the Governor, all the people of the state and indeed, all Nigerians without any exception. A Nigerian life lost is loss to all of us.

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''Hearing that aside the 73 buried here, more than 80 others have been killed in different parts of Benue is even more shocking to I believe it will be more shocking to all Nigerians who will be hearing that. There is no doubt that we haven’t got it right. We haven’t got it right because whatever is behind this, normally in any civilized society we must get to the root of it.”

''And until we get to the root of this we will be burying victims. We will be assuming what is not assumable, because we must know why is this happening and who we must put and end to it. And somebody must accept the responsibility to put an end to this. If it has to be a collective responsibility, then so be it. But there must be an end to it.''

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that Benue state governor Samuel Ortom after a meeting with security council in the state told the displaced indigenes of Mbatoho Island at the government house, on Tuesday that security agents will swing into action.

Ortom also insisted that the open grazing prohibition law will not be repelled. He said: ''We just came out of a security meeting today.

The Mbatoho community attack and displacement by these mercenary herdsmen featured extensively and we have taken steps.

Victims of Herdsmen killing buried in Benue State - on NAIJ.com TV: