The Benue State House of Assembly, on Thursday, suspended plenary for a week in deference to those killed by Fulani herdsmen in the state.
The House also summoned Governor Samuel Ortom to brief them on actions taken by the State Security Council to halt the incessant killings of Benue people by Fulani herdsmen.
The lawmakers arrived at this after debating on a motion by Dr Iorno Jato under urgent public importance. The House resolved that the governor is to appear in plenary next Wednesday for the interface.
The House equally appreciated members of the National Assembly for their firm stance against the killings, particularly their decision to suspend plenary in protest and to summon President Muhammadu Buhari over the matter.
Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Terkimbi Ikyange who gave the ruling after a debate on a motion of Urgent Public Importance moved by Dr. Ianna Jato, also appreciated the State’s Acting Governor for his efforts at ensuring the protection of the people in the Governor’s absence.
In his motion of Urgent Public Importance, Dr. Jato lamented that the people of the State were being killed in large numbers without any practical actions by those whose Constitutional role it is to protect the people.
Dr. Jato said that last Tuesday’s killing of two Catholic Priests and worshippers in a morning Mass in Gwer Local Government Area and the one that followed few hours later in Guma Local Government Area are dangerous trends that must be halted without further delay.
In their contributions, the Majority Leader, Barr. Benjamin Adanyi, and Mr. Paul Biam described the acts as provocative, dastardly and inhuman aimed at annihilation of Benue people.
Also speaking, Mr. Titus Uba, Dr. Kester Kyenge and Mr. Avine Agbom said it is unfortunate that despite the contributions of Benue people to keep the country united, the Federal government seems to fold its arms and watch the genocide being perpetrated against the State by herdsmen.