Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Thursday met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo over the ongoing killings in Agatu Local Government Area of the state.
The meeting was held at the office of the VP inside the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The governor told State House correspondents at the end of the meeting that the situation was gradually getting out of hand.
He said that was why he took the decision to come and seek the help of the Presidency.
He said: “There are issues in my state, especially the invasion of herdsmen in one of my local governments, Agatu Local Government.
“While we are making our own efforts to ensure that we maintain law and order, I thought it was necessary to also brief the Presidency.
“We also discussed other issues of interest.
“I think that the situation in Benue, especially in Agatu, is getting out of hand.
“Right now as I talk to you, several settlements have been razed down, an undisclosed number of people are killed and my people are refugees all over the place.
“I cannot sit back in Benue State when such thing is happening.
“The security agencies within the state are also trying.
“The Police, the Army and the Civil Defence and the DSS.
“We have been holding series of meetings.
“It is really alarming.
“Both the state and the Federal Government need to come together and do something because the state is not just peculiar.
“I am aware that this is also happening in other states too.
“Like I keep advocating, there is need for us to find a lasting solution, which is ranches.
“That is the best global best practice.
“That is what is happening everywhere in the world.
“The lands that used to exist in 1950s when we have cattle routes and grazing areas, it is no longer there.
“It is the same 923,000 square meters that is existing.
“Then, the population of Nigeria was less than 60 million.
“Today, we have a population of over 170 million.
“How do you cope with allowing grazing areas and all that?”
Governor Ortom said he had been appealing to the people of the state to remain peaceful.
He said he has been telling the herdsmen to appreciate that the farmer lives on his farming and the farmer must appreciate that the herdsman lives on his cattle.
He said: “”There must be mutual understanding so that we work together and address this.
“We must adopt the method of live and let live.
“It is not a matter of who has won.
“The herdsmen and farmers must work together while government is looking at establishing ranches just like it is done globally.
“We are on the same page with the Presidency and we think we must look at it very fast.
“The next meeting of the National Economic Council, this issue will come up and I think the Council will take a definite step that will support the end of this insurgent.”
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