Wike visits Benue, donates N200m to victims of farmers, herdsmen clashes

Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, has donated N200 million to the people of Benue state who were displaced from their homes following herdsmen attacks.

He made the donation when he visited the state on Wednesday to commiserate with Samuel Ortom, his Benue counterpart, and the people of the state.

The governor said the donation was for the purchase of relief materials and medicine for the displaced persons.

Wike and Ortom led other leaders to offer prayers at the graveside of the 73 people killed last month.

“What has happened in Benue state has affected me. I am pained. Look at deaths everywhere. Nobody is free again,” he said.

“People don’t understand the magnitude of the injury inflicted on the people of Benue state. The country must sit down to proffer solutions to this menace.”

He said the conflict that affected a component state also affects the entire country, arguing that it dislodged the security system.

In response, Ortom said about 100,000 persons have been displaced by the invasion of herdsmen.

He said Benue was also battling with the influx of displaced persons from Cameroon.

Ortom expressed regrets that rather than resolve the security challenges facing the state, the inspector -general of police had become a “spokesman for herdsmen”.