The leadership of tribal groups in Benue State has commended President Donald Trump for initiating air strikes in the North West of Nigeria aimed at eliminating terrorist groups operating in that region.
They praised the American President for fulfilling his commitment and urged him to extend these actions to the North East and North Central regions to ensure the complete eradication of the terrorist groups attacking and killing both Nigerian Christians and Muslims.
Chief Iorbee Ihagh, the Chairman of the tribal leaders and President General of Mzough U Tiv (MUT) Worldwide, reacted to the development by stating that he had already written a letter to the American President to commend him for taking the bold step to end the genocide of Christians in the country.
Chief Ihagh recalled that he had previously appealed to the American President to intervene and help put an end to the killings in Nigeria. “So it is a welcome development. All we are urging the American President is that the strikes should be sustained and should be decisive,” he said.
He further urged that the strikes be expanded to the North East and North Central regions, or the Middle Belt, where communities have suffered unimaginable attacks and killings by these terrorist groups. “Benue State in particular has endured an unimaginable level of killings, forcing hundreds of thousands of our people into Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps,” he added.
Beyond military action, Chief Ihagh also called on the American government to address the humanitarian crisis in Benue State and provide support that would help displaced persons return to their ancestral lands, some of which he noted had been taken over by terrorist herdsmen.
“We have a huge humanitarian crisis in Benue as we speak, occasioned by the relentless attacks on our communities by these terrorist groups who masquerade as herdsmen,” he stated.
“We appeal to the American government to take their actions a step further by assisting our people in regaining access to their ancestral homes that have been overtaken by the terrorists. As I speak with you, my home, Moon in Kwande Local Government Area, was sacked by the terrorists, who are currently occupying the entire Council Ward. I am speaking as a victim and I know and feel the pain of my people.”
“I personally thank America for taking this action. I have already written to the American President to commend him, and we hope and pray that this intervention will finally bring us peace in Nigeria, and in Benue State in particular, so that our people can return to their farms in their ancestral lands.”
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