BY SAMUEL ADEBAYO, ABUJA –The Middle Belt Journalists Forum (MBJF) has described the attack on Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State as an attack on the voice of reason in the “conspiracy of silence” which has allowed some armed lawless people unleash a reign of terror holding the country hostage.
It stressed that the attack on a sitting governor is indicative of the further breakdown of security in the country.
The Forum therefore demanded for the investigation on the weekend attack on the convoy of the Governor of Benue State on his way from farm near Gboko.
These were contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the President of the Forum, Jonathan Ipaa and National Secretary, Mrs Oikeke Igado Kure, stating that the attack on Ortom is owing to the fact that he is known to be a vocal advocate of equity, fairness and justice, and against the lawlessness of some armed herders who have not only killed, maimed but also turned many into Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) by dislodging them from their ancestral land.
The MBJF said that Governor Ortom speaks for all Nigerians, who have been forced fully uprooted from their land and should therefore be commended and supported.
The Forum said its members are worried that a person of the Governor’s standing with all the paraphernalia of security could be so easily attacked and therefore said that the Federal Government must justify the huge spending on security as citizens are now sitting ducks for criminal elements.
According to MBJF; “It is surprising that with the sophistication in security, the Federal Government is yet to deploy technology in fighting crime and criminality thereby making Nigerians vulnerable.
It demanded the immediate investigation into the incident in order to apprehend and bring to book those who attacked Governor Ortom as well as those killing and making other Nigerians miserable.
The Forum further said; “Citizens are encouraged to provide security agencies with relevant information to snuff out criminal elements in our midst. This is because the criminals do not respect tribe or religion as we are all victims”.
