Benue killings: Ortom reaches out to Suswan, Mark

Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue, has said his bid to tackle the carnage witnessed in his state compelled his reconciliation with his predecessor, Gabriel Suswam, and Senator David Mark, a former president of Senate.

Benue has witnessed attacks by suspected herdsmen, leading to over 40 deaths.

The governor said he called both Suswam and Mark, both of whom are chieftains of the opposition of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to seek a solution to the killings.

‘’I saw this as a problem for all Benue sons and daughters that is beyond party line which is why l decided to put every sentiment aside, reconciled with relevant stakeholders and sit with them to brainstorm with a view to find lasting solution to the crisis,” he said.

The governor said “49 dead bodies” picked from the two local government areas, where the carnages took place, would be given mass burial. He said 39 corpses were collected from Guma while 10 bodies were picked from scenes of attack in Logo.

At least 11 people have been killed in yet another attack by suspected herdsmen in Benue state.

The tragic incident happened less than a week after 20 people, including nine livestock guards, were killed in Guma and Logo local government areas of the state.

The latest attack took place at Tombu, a village in Logo local government.

President Muhammadu Buhari had sent a high-powered delegation led by Abdulrahman Dambazau, minister of interior, to the state to commiserate with the people and also find a lasting solution.

Efforts to check clashes between farmers and herdsmen have not yielded the desired result. Garus Gololo, a leader of Miyetti Allah cattle breeders in Benue, had said the New Year attack was a reprisal for the alleged theft of cows.