We are gradually walking into anarchy in Nigeria - CAN speaks on Benue killings
- The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged the federal government to compensate victims of Benue killings
- CAN also demanded the arrest and prosecution of the leadership of Maiyetti Allah kautal Horre
- The association added that Nigeria is gradually walking into a state of anarchy following various crisis in many state
The Christian Association of Nigeria has called on the federal government to compensate victims of January killings in Benue state.
The association said victims of the clash between herdsmen and farmers in the state have been abandoned by the federal government.
Speaking at a meeting organised by the National Council Committee on the herdsmen/farmers crisis in Makurdi, the Benue state chairman of CAN, Rev. Akpen Leva, said the situation is saddening.
Leva said: “Considering the losses suffered by the people of Benue state, the federal government has not found it expedient to avail the victims any form of compensation, it is indeed saddening.
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“What we demand for is adequate compensation for those killed, we need compensation for those in the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camp where over 100,000 persons are currently taking refuge.
“We also demand the arrest and prosecution of the leadership of Maiyetti Allah kautal Horre because they had issued threats before the killings, that is the more reason why they should be made to answer to the law because nobody should be seen to be above the law.
“Our fear is that the incursion in our communities is another grand plan to Islamize the country because the sequence of the attacks clearly shows that they are carried out in Christian communities."
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Also, a former military governor of Benue state, Atom Kpera (retired), warned that if the herdsmen are not tackled, there could be anarchy in Nigeria.
“We are gradually walking into anarchy in this country. People may be forced to take up arms to defend themselves if something urgent is not done to stop the killings.
“The federal government must know that we all belong to this country and we must all be protected from the menace of herdsmen and those perpetrating the killings arrested and made to face the law," Kpera said.
In his reaction, the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, faulted the timing of the deployment of military personnel in the state.
He said: "Why did government announce the deployment of the force way ahead of time allowing grace period to allow the killers of our people to run away. I have a concern over the entire arrangement."
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Legit.ng earlier reported that Benue and Taraba state governors have replied to a statement made by Emir of Kano blaming the anti-open grazing law on herdsmen crisis in the two states.
The governors also debunked the belief that they are sponsoring militia to counter-attack herdsmen in the state.
They urged the Emir of Kano to rather use his position as a traditional leader to help douse the heated situation between herders and farmer.
Victims of herdsmen killing buried in Benue state - on Legit.ng TV
Source: Legit.ng
