Benue, Taraba Killings: FG Opts For Military Action To Flush Out Killers -

The Federal Government at the weekend opted to take decisive military force to deal with the bandits believed to be behind the killings in parts of the country especially

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity said “The role of bandits and suspected mercenaries in what has become known as herdsmen/ farmer clashes and violence may have provoked the need for a fresh approach to dealing with the crisis, informed sources close to the Working Group formed recently by the National Economic Council have hinted.”

“The settled view in official circles is that the reported killings and violence recorded are the work of bandits and mercenaries since in many cases the herdsmen are often well-known in the communities where their cattle normally graze.”

According to him, the new position is one of the outcomes of the Working Group formed less than two weeks ago by the National Economic Council with 9 Governors, and chaired by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

The group was set up in a bid to end the impunity that has marked the activities of the bandits resulting in several deaths and maiming especially in Benue State.
According to the Kano State Governor Dr. Ganguje who read out highlights and decisions of the NEC to reporters (alongside his Ebonyi counterpart) after the Council meeting that Thursday the Working Group “will work in accordance with the President’s commitment to ensuring that all perpetrators of violence are brought to book.”

The highlights also noted that the Working Group which consists of Governors from Zamfara, Kaduna, Adamawa, Benue, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, Ebonyi & Oyo States actually commenced its work with a meeting presided over by the VP right immediately after NEC at the Presidential Villa.

The source disclosed that at the end of the Working Group meeting last week, it was clear a major turning point had been reached in the management of the crisis and sufficient consensus recorded on the need to stop the impunity by engaging the military in a more decisive manner.

Some political analyst had indicated that the crisis also required a political solution considering the religious and ethnic tones that could easily become further exacerbated and possibly worsen the situation if proper and timely care is not taken.