In lieu of the renewed armed herdsmen attacks on innocent people in Benue and other parts of the country, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Makurdi Branch has called on the Federal Government to declare state of emergency on security in the country.

Chairman NBA in the state, lawyer Justin Gbagir who made the call during a solidarity visit to Governor Ortom also called for the establishment of a Victims Support Commission empowered to cater and compensate victims of attacks in the country. They also called on the Federal Government to establish North Central Development Commission to rehabilitate parts of the region, which have been affected by wanton destruction caused by marauding herdsmen and bandits.

Expressing sorrow over the death of their colleague, Barrister Moses Udam and his pregnant wife, they vowed to boycott the courts on Monday, 21st December 2020 to mourn him in addition to taking the FG to court for neglecting its duty of protecting lives. They also resolved to collaborate with Governor Ortom to protect Benue people from attacks by marauding Fulani herdsmen.

Responding, Ortom reiterated his call on the Federal Government to allow responsible Nigerians own guns for self-defence, stressing that if the deceased lawyer had a gun, he’d have defended himself.

Ortom stated that herdsmen had decided to target livestock guards and agro rangers who are preventing them from taking over the land in the guise of grazing, pointing out that it was painful for a young man with such prospects to be murdered in that manner.

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