HRH Ayua Abomtse, the paramount ruler of Tyoshin Kingdom in Benue State has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to attend to the series of tragedies caused by herdsmen that have bedevilled the state from the beginning of the year, 2024.
The monarch who raised an alarm over the persistent attacks by armed herdsmen in his domain lamented that the assailants had killed 67 of his subjects since January 2024 and recently destroyed over 20 hectares of his farmland, cultivated with guinea corn and cassava, worth millions of Naira.
HRH Abomtse appealed to President Bola Tinubu’s administration to introduce state policing, arguing that local communities would be better equipped to protect themselves against such threats.
Abomtse also threw blames on security forces, particularly the military operation “Operation Whirl Stroke,” of not being effective in their duties of protecting lives and properties in the state.
He disclosed to newsmen in a telephone conversation that the armed herdsmen invaded his farm near Mbakpa Forest along the Naka-Agagbe road, wreaking havoc and killings without restraint. .
The monarch, however, called for an urgent action to maim the activities of the armed herdsmen to prevent further damage.
He said, “In my domain alone, they have killed about 67 persons from January 2024 to Saturday, November 23. I have been documenting these tragedies, with Nagi village recording the highest casualties.
“The time has come for the Federal Government to establish state police so that communities can police themselves. It should start at the council ward level to effectively curb the activities of these terrorists masquerading as herdsmen.
“My people are living at the mercy of killer herdsmen. The government must act decisively to end this nightmare,”.
Follow us for more
Author
