Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare armed herdsmen killing innocent people in communities of Benue State as terrorists.

The Governor made the call following repeated herdsmen attacks on different communities of the state in the last couple of months.

The latest of such attacks took place on Friday night at Tse-Chembe community near Anyiin in Logo Local Government Area.

The herders allegedly murdered seven persons in cold blood and left many others badly injured.

Reacting Ortom in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, condemned the invasion and killings.

Describing the situation as unacceptable, Ortom reiterated that the State has a law which prohibits open grazing of livestock.

He stressed that only a terrorist group would deliberately choose to violate the legislation as herdsmen have done since the law was established in 2017.

According to him, declaring the armed herders operating in Benue State as terrorists will end the wave of impunity and guarantee the rule of law.

He, therefore, urged people of the state, particularly those living in the affected areas to report any suspicious persons to security agencies.

The Governor also commended officers and men of Operation Whirl Stroke for their prompt responses to distress calls.

He reassured Benue people that his administration will not surrender the state to criminal elements, be they herdsmen or any other group.

Ortom added that no amount of threats and attacks will stop the enforcement of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the State.