Another Army General, David Mark, advocates self-defence after 15 killed in Benue; Plateau’s Mutfwang bans night grazing

Former President of the Senate and retired army general, Senator David Mark, has joined the growing calls for community self-defence mechanisms after 15 persons were killed around his homeland, Otukpo, the headquarters of Idoma land....READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE | READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE...

His call is coming three years after a similar back to back call by former Minister of Defence and Chief of Army Staff, General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, who told his people in Taraba State and other ethnicities in the North-Central to fish for arms to defend themselves against killer herdsmen. He tacitly, at the time, passed a vote of no confidence on the army he once led.

Recall that in a speech recently, at a conference in Abuja, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, advocated that communities rise up to defend themselves against invaders.

Mark, in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Paul Mumeh, said it was time communities begin to organise themselves into vigilanté groups to halt further invasion by those he described as murderers.

Senator Mark tasked security operatives to rise up to challenge to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice forthwith.

“The situation in parts of Benue state today cannot be said to be ordinary or accidental. It seems to me that it is an organised and premeditated action. We can no longer stand to watch our people killed needlessly for no just cause”, Mark was quoted as saying.

Senator Mark noted that “in as much as our people should accommodate others in our communities, we must as a matter of necessity differentiate between legitimate residents and invaders.”

He condemned the attack on Otobi-Akpa, Emichi in Otukpo Local Government Area and Utonkon in Ado Local Government Area in Benue state by armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

No fewer than 15 persons were reported killed during the invasion by the armed men on Tuesday night in Otobi – Akpa, Emichi and Utonkon communities.

Like President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, Mark said enough is enough of the killings in the domain he represented four times in the Senate.

He urged the people to remain calm and cooperate with security operatives in the task of restoring peace and order in the troubled communities.

He commiserated with families of the victims and prayed that almighty God grant the deceased eternal rest.

Meanwhile, Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau has banned night grazing in all parts of the state following the spate of attacks and killings in some communities.

Mutfwang issued the ban in a statewide broadcast on Wednesday in Jos over the prevailing security challenge in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that on April 2, gunmen attacked Hurti, Josho, Daffo, and other communities in Manguna District of the locality.

Similarly, gunmen on Sunday attacked Zike and Kimakpa communities of Kwall District, Iregwe Chiefdom of Bassa.

In both incidents, the attackers killed over 100 community folks and destroyed many houses and other properties.

The governor also restricted the movement of cattle on vehicles in all parts of the state as from 7:00p.m.

He explained that the move aimed at curbing the rising security challenges in the state.

“To restore calm and strengthen vigilance, I hereby announce that effective Wednesday, April 16, night grazing of cattle is strictly prohibited.

“Also, transportation of cattle by vehicle is banned after 7:00p.m. The use of motorcycles is restricted from 7:00p.m. to 6:00a.m across the state until further notice,” he said

The governor, who assured residents of the state of his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property, promised to support the security agencies in the state.

Mutfwang, who also insisted that the killings were not an isolated conflict between farmers and herders, thanked President Bola Tinubu for his commitment towards achieving lasting peace in the state.

He promised to constitute a fact-finding committee comprising of respected independent voices, to investigate the root causes of the violence and offer actionable recommendations.