A TALE OF FEAR IN THE BENUE VALLEY

For a long time now, the Benue Valley has been in the news. Reports of killings have continued. Whole communities have been burnt down; in their place, charred remains of what was. Strange men have simply invaded communities without the fear of reprisal and the helm has decided to wear the regalia of indifference, even as tears and blood sip into the sands. Machetes have left deep slash marks, and bullets, holes, on lifeless bodies. The gory details of the role of killer Herdsmen, the new Terrorists on the block, and for some reason, the Military, are still running in the National Dailies. And we are left with one question: How did we get here?

The Nigerian Government cannot continue to drag her feet in issues of national security. Killer Herdsmen, whether they are from the Sahel and were trained by the Late Gaddafi or not, should be sorted out, arrested and prosecuted accordingly. 
The Right to Life is a Constitutional provision, yet lives are being lost. In Benue alone, the Mass Burial for victims comprising of defenseless children, women, youths and the old is cause enough for action. Delay has led to further killings of the Clergy and worshippers.
18 local governments have been affected already.

There are more reports of killings in other states in the Benue Valley region, including Taraba, Kogi, Kwara, and Nasarawa. We cannot continue to play dumb to the plight of many. This is playing politics with human life. Is this trend to continue?

The Army, for their part, is expected to bring to book those officers who participated in the Naka destruction. For whatever reason, going against a community that did not fight back, is indiscipline enough, even if one of their own was killed. On good intelligence, which I believe the Nigerian Army can gather, should have fished out those who were responsible for the death of any Soldier. Lack of restraint should not be associated with the Military. News of a Court Martial in this regard has not featured in any of the National Dailies, but it should.

Recently, the Benue Valley Professionals Network sent out a Communiqué calling on the Federal Government to act without any more delays. Quite a number of issues have been raised, none of which are less important. The urgency of the situation calls for an immediate approach. 
The Benue Valley should not go on to become victims of Government’s inaction. Failing to learn from the activities of the Boko Haram sect is only going to make things worse. 
Note that, a semblance of normalcy has only just begun to return to the North East. We fear that IDP Camps in the Benue valley region are already becoming too popular. Put together, close to a million people have been made homeless.

There are other media reports making rounds, but none of them has assured Nigerians that a genuine measure has been adopted yet. Too much of the problem has held readers spell bond but not the solution. We all want to wake up, with fresh reports that say, there are no more deaths in the Benue Valley, or in any region in Nigeria for that matter.

Terrorism is no longer an alien story in Nigeria. It is in fact, a reality. Nigerians cannot afford to live in denial, and right now, it is beyond treating any of it as propaganda. A decisive measure should be instituted in the Benue valley region as a way of curbing the terrorist activities of Killer Herdsmen. 
The United States President, Donald Trump has echoed how important it is to tackle Terrorism by all necessary means. The Nigerian Government must heed and reevaluate its stands. Only then can the rest of Nigeria pitch in genuinely.