Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Mohammed Bage (retd) said the people of Nasarawa State expect justice to be done by the authorities over the unfortunate killings of innocent herdsmen in Rukubi, Doma Local Government.
He noted that the people would rather not engage in loose talks regarding the incident.
The Emir of Lafia who is the Chairman, Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs stated this at the government house Lafia when the Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom paid a condolence visit to his Nasarawa State counterpart over the death of his first son.
The royal father added that, since the incidence that occurred in Rukubi, leaders of the state have prevailed on the people not to take decisions of their own, not to spread falsehood but to remain restraint and have self-control.
“And that is exactly what happened. We are people of the rule of law and we believe in justice and fair play. We believe that justice will be done because we were wronged one way or the other. I want to go by the rule of law not making loose statements,” the Emir stated.
Tracing the relationship between the people of Benue and Nasarawa State to the colonial times, the royal father explained that Nasarawa State has always been part of the old Benue Province before being merged with Plateau State and finally being a distinct entity.
“Difference between Nasarawa and Benue States is just an artificial boundary. Because, I always said that, as you travel, you will not see where a wall is erected separating us. The Almighty made it possible for us to be one. But just as His Excellency has said, for administrative convenience and to make it easy for management, that’s why you have the Benue and you have the Nasarawa States.
“It’s still one entity because we share common blood, inter marriages, everything that you can think about, that is what the Almighty has decided. We will continue to remain as friends, as brothers and as neighbours now that there is the artificial creation of boundaries,” he said.
Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom said the Rukubi incident must have caused pains and grief to people of Nasarawa State, especially that more than 40 people lost their lives.
Ortom said he tried to enquire from the military what really led to the massacre in Rukubi but he is yet to get a feedback.
He used the opportunity to employ Nigerians to restraint themselves from making utterances that will aggravate the problem and create confusion and apportion blame to people.
“I am really not happy with some utterances coming from very responsible people instead of trying to find out. As governors, our lines are at the disposal of the public. People can access us through our aides and security personnel, to try to find out.
“People can find out from me since we share a common border with Nasarawa State. And the same thing with my brother the Governor, you can find out from him instead of making statements that are not verifiable,” Ortom stated.
Ortom noted that, human life is sacred and as such must be respected, stressing however, that there is a general security problem in the country.
The Benue Governor called on the authorities to fully investigate the Rukubi incidence.