President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said the number of persons killed in herdsmen and farmers clashes and other violent attacks in Mambilla Plateau, Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State, and Zamfara combined are more than those who lost their lives in attacks in Benue State.

Speaking in Jalingo on Monday, during a meeting between the Fulani and Mambilla ethnic groups, Mr. Buhari said he ”has a way of gathering his own information on all the crises and killings in the country.”

The president, who said he was in the state to condole with the government and those who lost their loved ones, described attacks and shedding of blood as unfortunate.

He said peace and security were not the responsibility of the government alone but a collective one.

He appealed to all to ensure that justice is done to all the people at all times, adding that the perpetrators of the heinous acts would be identified and punished.

Speaking earlier, the Taraba Governor, Darius Ishaku, thanked the president for the visit and assured that the administration would do everything possible to ensure that peace was maintained in the state.

The governor also assured the president that the traditional institutions and leaders of Sardauna Local Government would be mobilised to work together to ensure the take-off of the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project in the area.

In the president’s entourage were service chiefs, ministers of information, defence and women affairs as well as some members of the National Assembly from Taraba.

Editor’s Note: A self-obtained audio and transcript of President Muhammadu Buhari’s remarks while in Jalingo revealed that what he actually said was: ”More people were killed in Mambila and in Zamfara (combined), than in Benue.” PREMIUM TIMES had reported that Mr. Buhari said ”More people were killed in Mambilla than in Zamfara and Benue states combined.” This post, including headline, has thus been edited as appropriate. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.