Dickson Tarkighir
Dickson Tarkighir, a member of the house of representatives, says agriculture in Benue has been adversely affected by the incessant attacks on farmers.
Speaking with journalists on Wednesday after moving a motion on the floor of the green chamber, Tarkighir, who represents Makurdi/Guma federal constituency, said the state no longer lives up to its sobriquet of “food basket of the nation”, as widespread insecurity has turned it into an “empty basket”.
On June 13, gunmen attacked Yelewata and Daudu communities in Guma LGA of the state, killing over 200 people, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) and farmers.
The lawmaker said victims included children and pregnant women.
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“These people burnt children, hacked pregnant women, cut limbs of young children and infants as old as one year,” he said.
“Benue state, which used to be the food basket of the nation, is now an empty basket.
“People have not been able to access their ancestral lands to farm for the past 10 years.”
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THE MOTION
Moving the motion during plenary, the lawmaker said “thousands of residents” have been displaced, resulting in a dire humanitarian situation.
He said similar attacks have “occurred regularly within and beyond” his constituency.
Following the adoption of the motion, the house asked the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and relevant ministries and agencies to urgently provide adequate relief materials and medical assistance to the victims and displaced persons.
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The house resolved to investigate the killings to ensure justice for victims and their families.
The lower legislative chamber also asked the federal government to build a forward operating base (FOB) for the army in Yelewata to forestall future attacks.
