Terrorists, Killer-Herdsmen Our Problem Not Tribe – Ortom Insists
The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, insists his administration and people of the State will not back down raising their voices against bandits and killer-herders terrorising the State.
He says the anger and fight of Benue people are directed at terrorists, killer herdsmen and criminality, not against any Fulani as being insinuated in some quarters.
Equally, the Benue Governor has called out his colleague in Bauchi State, Governor Bala Mohammed, saying he should apologise to Nigerians for his comments that seems to back AK-47-wielding herders that are perpetrating criminal activities nationwide
Speaking with the media in Makurdi on the state of insecurity in Benue on Monday, Governor Ortom said; “We are not against any tribe, especially the Fulani people, but rather against terrorists, killer herdsmen, bandits, kidnappers and all types of criminals within the state.”
According to him; “We are actively supporting our security agencies, to ensure that all remaining pockets of banditry, kidnappings among others, are mitigated.”
He said for any democracy to flourish, enabling laws must be in place and implemented to support required governance structures.
The governor said it was in that respect his administration had to enact and domesticate more than 20 laws since coming into office in year 2015.
Preferring not to join issues with his Bauchi State counterpart, Senator Bala Mohammed, over his recent comments on herdsmen carrying arms, especially AK-47, Governor Ortom said ranching remained the only and most effective solution to the lingering farmers/herders crisis across the country.
He however said the Bauchi Governor should demonstrate statesmanship by apologising to Nigerians for his incendiary comments that seem to suggest support for killer-herdsmen and bandits carrying AK-47 rifles to terrorise Nigerians and perpetrate criminal activities nationwide.
However, the governor lauded the President for deploying security personnel to handle the state’s security challenges, noting that the development has seen Benue State currently experiencing relative peace.
