In response to a purported video on social media displaying the killing of some herdsmen in Benin, Edo State Capital, The Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Thursday held a closed door meeting with the Hausa community residents at the Government House, where he assured the residence of safety and better security.
He however, countered that the video in circulation is an intentional act of misguidance to create a state of fear in the nation.
The circulating video was also countered by the Sarkin Hausawa of Edo, Alhaji Adamu Isa, where he described it as a false and malicious one.
“We have discussed the issue of banditry, herders and farmers crisis and other security challenges and the lies being posted on social media that some Arewa members were being killed in Edo.
“So, as far as I am concerned, as the Sarkin Hausa of Benin, who is the head of all the Arewa communities in Edo, I have not gotten facts about this story being spread on social media.
“…Edo is a peace-loving place,” he said.
The governor while assuring good Security, stated that a command-and-control centre has been deployed to ensure that Hausa community with useful information concerning the farmer and herders’ issue can anonymously volunteer it.
“From what I have seen, from what I have heard, I have gone round communities and what I could see is just a deliberate attempt by some misguided people to play politics with security in Nigeria.
“This is really unfortunate; I went round some communities a few days ago. Yes, there have been unfortunate incidents and it’s not unusual at this time of the year.
“A lot of herdsmen are looking for greener pastures and then stray into other people’s property and farm lands. We have set up systems to check this in Edo state; we are just going to reactivate those systems.”
“Every local government must have a committee to look into and deal with herders and farmers crisis; this committee must have a minimum of three representatives from Arewa and Fulani communities and other dominant communities in the local government.
“On the other side, you will have the representatives of traditional institutions and the security agencies who are supposed to intervene whenever there is a crisis in those areas,” He stated.
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