The Benue Youth Forum, BYF, has accused the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, of supporting terrorists who killed people in Benue State.
BYF said Atiku’s recent “careless and unfortunate” statement justifying herders attack in the state was a mockery of those killed.
The group berated Atiku over his recent comments accusing Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State of profiling Fulanis as bandits and terrorists and last week’s killing of over 40 people including two police officers in Gbeji, Ukum Local Government Area of the state.
Terrence Kuanum, the President of BYF, tagged Atiku’s comments as “another terrible unforced error.”
In a statement he issued on Thursday, Kuanum said: “That careless and callous comment coming from an individual who is parading himself as a “unifier” clearly shows where he stands on the incessant invasion of Benue communities and massacre of the people and the destruction of their property by well armed Fulani militiamen.
“We see that evil statement which came from the abundance of Atiku’s heart as a justification of the massacre in Benue state and a mockery of those who died in those attacks as well as a declaration of support for the marauding Fulani terrorists that carry those heinous activities.”
They urged Atiku to exhibit his acclaimed love for the Tiv people by condemning the act by the Fulani militia.
Stressing the need to strip Atiku of his Zege Mule U Tiv title, BYF charged the Tiv Traditional Council to monitor his future utterances regarding the state.
The group called on him to immediately apologize to people of the state over his comments regarding killings.
BYF charged the PDP presidential candidate to show sincere commitment to Benue people and show that he would condemn such act of terrorism if elected president.
