FG urges Nigerians to exercise restraint over Benue crisis

FG urges Nigerians to exercise restraint over Benue crisis

- The minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, cautions against incendiary comment about the Benue crisis

- He states that the media and commentators should be cautious of their coverage in order not to further inflame passion and worsen the situation

- Benue state is still in mourning following attacks on two local government areas by suspected herdsmen

The federal government has appealed to the media and public commentators to exercise utmost restraint in their coverage of the fallouts of the recent farmers/herders’ clash in Benue.

READ ALSO: Herdsmen attack: Senate panel visits Benue, to meet Ortom, others

The minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who made the appeal in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, January 13, cautioned against “incendiary comments, unrestrained use of pictures and footages that offended human sensibilities” in the coverage of the crisis, The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The minister also cautioned against “finger pointing” that could exacerbate the situation and complicate ongoing efforts by the federal government to end the crisis

He stressed that the media and commentators should be cautious of their coverage in order not to further inflame passion and worsen the situation.

Mohammed said that the government is working hard to address the situation with a view to preventing a recurrence, not just in Benue state but everywhere across the country.

”Lest we are misunderstood, we are neither saying the media should not cover the crisis nor asking public commentators to desist from commenting on it.

“All we are saying is that both must be circumspect.

”The current poisoned atmosphere of incendiary comments, unrestrained use of pictures and footages that offend human sensibilities as well as finger pointing can only exacerbate the situation and complicate ongoing efforts to end the crisis,” he said.

The minister said that the Government was saddened by the loss of lives and the destruction of property resulting from the crisis.

He recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, in commiserating with the Benue Governor, unreservedly condemned the killings.

He said the president had also assured of the necessary security measures to prevent further attacks and bring the perpetrators to book.

READ ALSO: LIST: Names of 73 Benue indigenes killed in herdsmen attacks

Mohammed said the Government had mapped out short and long-term solutions to the incessant clashes, including a planned conference of stakeholders.

He assured of the government’s strong determination to find a lasting solution to the farmers/herders’ clashes.

Meanwhile, the governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom, has stated that he was never warned against implementing the anti-open grazing law by his Plateau counterpart, Simon Lalong, The Cable reports.

Ortom made his comments while receiving a delegation of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on Friday, January 12.

Lalong had stated that he did warn Ortom against implementing the law.

Legit.ng gathers that the Benue governor however, stated that after his attention had been drawn to Lalong’s comments , he confronted him; but the latter denied making the statement.

Mass burial organised by the Benue state government for victims of herdsmen attack - on Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit.ng

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