Ortom Fingers Nigerian Government In Bandits’ Operations Within Benue State

By Chioma Iruke

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has accused the Nigerian Government of involvement in promoting insecurity in his state.

The Middle Belt Governor who made the accusations while on a television programme on Monday night, insinuated that the Nigerian government is shielding the activities of Bandits and Fulani herdsmen who have been terrorizing his state, therefore making them bolder.

Ortom who noted that he had received several messages and press statements from various groups, hinted that his state is of interest because of his refusal to support open grazing, a move that has been adopted by Southern Governors.

“I’m very surprised when you hear Miyetti Allah come out to take responsibility for sending these bandits to kill us. When you hear Fulani Nationality Movement (FUNAM) taking responsibility of the killings in Benue and the attempted assassination on my life.

“And after reporting, up till today we have not heard of any apprehension by security agencies.

“I have documents and press statements with threats to the Benue people, so it’s not a hidden thing. I have written reports and attached copies to the President, Vice President and Security agencies and nothing has been done.

“Today, someone will say this people are invisible? They are in Abuja attached with heavily armed security that move around with them. So how can you deny that the government is not involved,” he said.

Ortom speaking further on how insecurity had affected his state, said he “feared for Benue” as the state had over 1.5m Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) out of the total population of the state was 7m.

The Benue Governor also accused the Nigerian government of purporting lies against the state when he addressed what he regarded as misconceptions that the state did not key into the “livestock transformation plan”.

According to him, “Benue was the first to key into the programme. It was never implemented. I am a member of the Governors Forum, we did a report on this but it was never implemented, the reason for this I don’t know.”