From Joseph Uchenna, Makurdi
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Engr Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev has assured the Yelwata community in Guma local government area of Benue State of Federal government concerted efforts to bring lasting peace to the community and Benue as a whole.
Professor Utsev gave the assurance on Friday when he alongside with his wife Mrs Doosuur visited the Yelwata community to condole with the people and offer support to the victims of the recent herdsmen attack that killed over 200 persons.
Professor Utsev said apart from the recent condolence visit to the state by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume and himself and the directive to security agencies to hunt down the killers immediately, Mr President alongside Senator George Akume, Minister of Defence, himself and other well-meaning Benue sons and Nigerians, were making conscious efforts to end the killings in the state to enable farmers return to their ancestral homes and continue with their farming activities.
The Water Resources and Sanitation Minister who promised to tackle the water needs of the committee, also pledged to supply fertiliser and irrigation equipment free of charge to Benue farmers to enable them go into large scale agriculture to end hunger and achieve food sufficiency in the country.
Professor Utsev alongside wife Mrs Doosuur later visited the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH where over one hundred victims of the attack are being treated and expressed shock over the magnitude of the attacks on the innocent people especially women and children during which he gave them words of hope and donated undisclosed amount of money for their medical bills.
On her part, Mrs Doosuur Utsev who consoled the victims over the unfortunate incident also donated clothes and toiletries for their upkeep.
Earlier, Reverend Father Solomon Ukeyima and the District Head of Nyiev Chief Benard Adawa expressed appreciation to Professor Utsev for identifying with the people in their moment of grief, explaining that the attacks were a deliberate attempt to take over the land by herdsmen and appealed to the Federal Government to hasten the process of resettling the displaced persons to enable them continue with their farming activities to make earns meet .
Items donated by the Minister and his wife include bags of corn, garri, noodles, clothes among others.
