President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday
disclosed that the number of persons killed in
herdsmen and farmers clashes and other
violent attacks in Mambilla Plateau, Sardauna
Local Government Area of Taraba State, is
more than those killed in Zamfara and Benue
states put together.
Buhari stated this during a stakeholders’ meeting with
representatives of ethnic groups and the Taraba State
Government at the Taraba Government House in
Jalingo.
The Nigerian supreme leader arrived at the Danbaba
Suntai Airport about 3.38pm accompanied by the
Ministers of Women Affairs, Defence, Information and
Culture, some members of the National Assembly from
the state and Service Chiefs. He was received by the
state Governor, Darius Ishaku.
The president, who said he was in the state to condole
with the government and those who lost their loved
ones, described attacks and shedding of blood as
unfortunate.
In the meeting, which lasted for almost two hours,
Buhari called on the traditional rulers to find ways of
resolving the crisis in the state.
His words: “Governor Darius Ishaku and I are
here temporarily. We will go at the end of our
tenure, but you are permanent with the
people at the grass roots.
“So, I charge you to go back and find ways of
resolving the crises in your domains. Go and
give your people justice for peace to reign.
“When I was campaigning, I came here and
promised to provide security, boost the economy
and fight corruption.
“Today, even our worst enemy can attest to the
fact that the APC-led Federal Government has
done well in the area of security. We have
decimated Boko Haram, while the fight against
corruption is going on well.
“I can only appeal to the conscience of the
people for them to embrace peace and live with
one another in harmony so that there could be
development and not destruction.
“As a President, I have sources of getting
intelligence on happening across the country
and so I should not be expected to always go
out to the field to make noise and insult the
sensibility of Nigerians before it would be
known that I am taking actions against the
killings.
“There were more killings in Mambilla than
Benue and Zamfara states. I chose to visit
Taraba first, but I will be going to Benue and
Zamfara after I return from Ghana to also
condole with the people.”
The President further called for the arrest and
prosecution of any herdsman caught with arms.