‘Seek International Help Over Herdsmen Killings’ – Soyinka tells Nigerian Government

‘Seek International Help Over Herdsmen Killings’ – Soyinka tells Nigerian Government

Nobel Laureate, Professor Woke Soyinka, on Thursday asked the Federal Government to ask for international assistance to curb the menace of herdsmen killings in Benue State and other affected places in the country.

Soyinka spoke during a visit to Governor Samuel Ortom in Makurdi after he attended the 35th anniversary of Senator Suemo Chia’s novel, Adan Wade Kohol Ga, written in Tiv.

“I think there should be no business of national integrity, national pride and so on. People are dying, this government cannot cope, please just ask for international help and I know they’re ready and willing to come to our aid,” he said.

The renowned playwright further stated that where human lives are concerned in their thousands and as it was observed everywhere all over the world, those nations where the Nigerian military had served before can come to the country’s assistance.

Soyinka challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to give those who are occupying lands that do not belong to them 48 hours to vacate such areas for the proper indigenous occupants to return to their homes.

Governor Ortom said it is government’s responsibility to rise up to defend the unity of the country and to defend their integrity as leaders.

Ortom said, “This is not a hidden agenda; it is known and those people who are perpetrating it did say it. They’re not hidden. They held press conferences, they came out and said they were going to resist our law, that they were going to do ethnic cleansing, it is about jihad, it’s about taking over the land, it’s not about herders and farmers clashes. They said it clearly and it’s written and we have the documents and I’ve reported them to the security agencies.”

The governor, who commended Soyinka for his solidarity, also thanked President Buhari for the increased military presence in the state.