- Former president Olusegun Obasanjo has paid a solidarity visit to Benue state
- Obasanjo sympathised with the family, the governor and all the people of the state
- He said somebody must accept the responsibility of putting the killings to an end
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.
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.
OBJ pays a solidarity visit to Benue state. Photo credit: Channel Television
''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.
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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo visits the mass burial grave site in Benue state. Photo credit: Channel Television
OBJ pays a solidarity visit to Benue state. Photo credit: Channel Television
''I do hope that there would be an end to this. Gorvernor, please accept my condolence and do not give up trying to work with men and women that have the interest of this state and the interest of Nigeria at heart to find a permanent solution.
''This to me goes beyond what is on the surface. And we need to find out what is at the bottom of it. And that is the responsibilities of leaders and of course, they must leave no stone unturned to find what the root cause of this and put a stop to it.
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''We must know why it is happening and we must put an end to it, someone must take responsibility to put an end to it. We cannot talk of a free, secure country where we will want development to take place and investors to come to be suffering this type of senselessness.
“Nothing can be worse than what we have seen here; graveside of innocent people who should not have died that have died. The living still have hope, but those who have died are gone forever. Those who lost their loved ones, what do we say to them? Since I have taken time to come here, I will try to see anything that is worth seeing but finding solution is paramount.''
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:
Source: Naija.ng
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