President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday urged herdsmen and farmers to live peacefully.
He also disclosed that that his government was deeply worried about the incessant attacks on Benue’s rural communities, and vowed to end the menace “very soon”.
Responding to remarks by various stakeholders during a Town Hall meeting in Government House, Makurdi, on Monday, the President also urged them to show restraint and allow the security agencies to handle the untenable situation.
His words: “The governor and I, and others here know that we will leave one day, but the relationship between farmers and herders will continue.
“I urge you to keep in touch with them and advise them to live peacefully. Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups with different cultures and nobody can question God for putting us together.”
Recalling his Civil War era memories with military officers from Benue State, he noted that his nostalgic experience with such persons would never allow him to do harm to the state.
Buhari further hailed the efforts of the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, an indigene of Benue State, whom he described as “a great asset in my government”.
He assured his administration would continue to empower farmers with loans by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Expressing delight that the agricultural policy of his administration has led to 90 per cent reduction in rice importation, he commended Ebonyi, Lagos, Kebbi, Jigawa and Benue States for “doing extremely well.”
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