Arewa Youth Council demands arrest, prosecution of Miyetti Allah over threat against Benue

Worried by the Fulani socio-cultural group, Miyetti Allah’s threat that it would make Benue State ungovernable, the Arewa Youth Council (AYC), has described the call as an invitation to anarchy, stressing that security agents should arrest and prosecute those behind the comment to avert bloodletting.

National President of the AYC, Comrade Dogo Shagari made the group’s position known on Wednesday in Makurdi during a solidarity visit on Governor Samuel Ortom.

He frowned at the statement of what AYC described as “unmerited, scrupulous, demonic, inhuman and diabolic foreign machineries” who “align with some unlettered opposition leadership whose stock in trade is to distract good governance for all. ”

The AYC National President said the group read on pages of newspapers with utter shock and total dismay the threats made by Miyetti Allah to make Benue State ungovernable, stressing that though it was laughable, the threat should not be taken for granted as similar threats in the past ended in bloodshed.

He noted that AYC is proud of Governor Ortom and stand shoulders high in identifying with him and the peace loving people of the state, describing the Governor as “defender of the Benue Valley, Vanguard of peaceful coexistence, driver of Benue ideals and Defender of Benue rights.

According to him, the group’s interaction with people of the state had shown that “Ortom is Benue and Benue is Ortom” and the attempt by Miyetti Allah was a goose chase in a broad day light.

Represented by the State Deputy Governor, Engineer Benson Abounu, Governor Ortom said Benue as an integral part of Nigeria would continue to support the unity and overall development of the country.

He explained that destruction of farm crops through open grazing of herds resulting to conflicts and wanton destruction of lives and property led to the enactment of the ranching law of Benue State, stressing that the law was not meant to witchhunt any particular group of people.

The Governor who wished the leadership of AYC well in their tenure of office, thanked the group for the solidarity visit, adding that it was heartwarming to have youths form such a formidable organisation on a mission for peaceful coexistence.