Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, has opined that the end to terrorist attacks in Nigeria is solely in the hands of the federal government.
He further accused the federal government of participating in acts of terrorism in the nation adding that it is also shielding murderous Fulani herdsmen who were still committing random killings in the State, The Will reported.
In a conversation with journalists on Sunday, Governor Ortom lamented in an emotional tone about the situation after paying a visit to patients at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi who were injured in attacks by Fulani herdsmen on the Abagena Community, close to an IDP camp.
Ortom said; “This is my pain, since 2015, I have cried out loud that the Federal Government is complicit to the issues of terrorism raising Fulanis in Niger from Futa Jalon (Senegal), Cameroon, Mauritania and Libya and other parts of the world so that they will come to Nigeria and take it and make it their country.
“One thing that pains me is that these people have not hidden their intentions and they are known. The Federal Government is protecting them. I have called for the arrest of the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore several times. I have written to the Presidency. I have written to DSS, I have written to the Police, and yet they are adamant. It is not that these people are not known, they are known.”
According to the Governor, “the day that the Federal Government wants these acts of terrorism against our people to end, that will be it. But for now, they are complicit. They are working with them to push for the take over of this country and make this country a Fulani nation.”
Speaking further, the Governor insisted that “I am quoting the Fulani National Movement, I am quoting Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, who are responsible for this recruitment and killings that are going on. No one has attempted to even call these people and question them and do the needful. If we are a country that believes in the rule of law, this will not continue.”
He voiced displeasure at the ongoing invasions and murders of Benue civilians by foreign Fulani terrorists, saying, “We are fed up with this kind of lawlessness that is going on.”
He added; “I have restrained myself from becoming a lawless Governor or a lawless leader, because this will lead to anarchy and when we get to that level that is war and nobody can pray for war. Those who have experienced it before, including security agencies, none of them will ask for this kind of situation.”
Among the victims are 14-year-old Emberga Ukpoor, whose hand was severed; Terna Ikyaan, shot in the belly; Kwaghve Terkimbi, whose ear was severed; Agber Ikyume; Regina Gbashaor; Eunice Iyua; and an elderly woman named Esther Num, who was wounded and had the bullet through her waist.
The chief medical director of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Terrumun Swende, gave the governor a tour of the wards where nine survivors are receiving medical care and updated him on the state of each victim.
Nine people were confirmed killed following the attack at the Abagena IDPs camp on the outskirts of Makurdi, with one having his head severed and taken away by the bandits, according to a statement signed by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur.
The PPRO, Sewuese Anene, stated on Saturday that she would make the real situation public as soon as she had information about the attack, but as of the time this story was filed, the Benue State Police Command had stayed silent.
