Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue on Tuesday reported
fresh killing of two policemen in Benue to President
Muhammadu Buhari, urging prompt action to stop the
carnage and arrest those behind it.
He disclosed this to State House correspondents after
he briefed Mr President on the security situation in the
state, since the New Year killing of many people in the
state.
According to the governor, the situation has taken a
different dimension as the militia exchanged fire with
mobile policemen in Logo local government, killing
two and leaving another injured.
He said that the other officer declared missing after
the incident was found on Tuesday morning while the
state government had taken the injured to the hospital
for treatment.
“So, when it gets to the level of militia killing security
men who are armed and are trained to protect lives
and property is it not taking a dangerous dimension?
Who is now safe?’’ the governor asked.
The governor reported that the militia men were
encamped in Tungwa, Awe Local Government, from
where they planned and launched their attacks on
innocent people.
He recalled that he had earlier briefed the President
when the Jan. 1 incident took place.
He explained that after staying back on the ground to
do some needful to restore normalcy, it was important
for him to come personally and brief him.
“Already, because of the communication we have been
having when this incident happened, action has been
taken as directed by him.
“The movement of the DIG, the movement of the
Inspector-General of Police, now to head to Benue
state to ensure that this challenge is surmounted was
at the instance of Mr President.
“Of cause additional security personnel, DSS and Police
have been deployed, and even the Army.
“We have additional personnel on ground now and we
are adequately and fully giving them the full logistic
support to ensure that people are protected,’’ the
governor added.
The governor again accused the leadership of Myetti
Allah cattle breeders as being behind the mayhem and
called for the arrest and prosecution of the group’s
leaders.
Ortom acknowledged that President Buhari was
carrying out further investigations into the Benue crisis
to know what to do next.
“I had to brief him. He is also doing further
investigation to know the next line of action,’’ he said.
He said that since June 2017 he had written to the
security agencies about those who posed threats to the
collective interest of the people requesting that they be
dealt with.
“They must be arrested and prosecuted because we
cannot allow impunity to continue to thrive.
“And of cause, threat and no action have resulted to
this killing and I think also that Mr President will also
do the needful to ensure that something is done
urgently,’’ he said.
On the accusation that the Benue government had
hired machinery to fight on behalf of the state the
governor said the allegation was untrue.
He also denied alleging that he was being prevented
from seeing Mr President, adding that besides talking
with him on phone he had met him personally to
discuss the situation in Benue.
“The truth is that I have access to Mr President anytime
I want to speak with him on phone, and to see him
personally.
“I requested that I wanted to speak with him on phone
that day because I couldn’t come to Abuja and he gave
me the opportunity; I did, and today I am here and I
have seen him.’’
When asked if he would approve the deployment of
soldiers to the troubled state, the governor replied in
the affirmative.
“Anything that can stop the killing of my people, I will
go for it, I will support it.
“Any policy or any directive, anything that will help
stop the killing of these innocent people who are not
armed will go because this cannot continue.
“You know that continuity of this will create greater
challenges for us and I don’t want it to continue.
“We are struggling with economic issues; we are
struggling with political issues we are struggling with
several other issues in this country, security issues and
all that.
“Benue state should not be part of this. There is no
need for it
“The law of prohibition of open grazing and
establishment of ranching was made out of the
necessity to ensure that we have peace for herdsmen
and farmers.
“And that is what we have done. The law seeks to
protect all.’’
The governor also debunked the allegation that
farmers killed some 2,000 herdsmen and stole their
cattle, saying that the person making the allegation had
yet to substantiate it and other claims he had made.
Ortom stated that he had yet to understand the idea of
creating colonies for cattle breeders to prevent
farmers-herdsmen clashes, saying that the solution to
the problem was ranching.
“Well I am waiting to be briefed about what colony
means, I don’t understand it and until I know what it is,
but for us the way forward is ranching because it is the
global best practice.
“And it is not just practiced in other parts of the world;
on African soil, in Swaziland, South Africa, Tanzania,
Kenya, Mozambique, almost all African countries that
rear cattle they ranch.
“So, why can’t we do the same thing here,’’ he added.
The governor stated that he, as a farmer, had a ranch
in his farm and “the permits are available for people
who want to ranch their cattle to also assess land and
begin to ranch.
“So, it is free for everybody and that is the right way to
go and since we started implementation there has
been relative peace among farmers and herdsmen,’’ he
explained.
NAN
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