By Matthew Ajai-Kume
Governor Samuel Ortom has called for the arrest of the leadership of Miyetti Allah Koutal Hore, who at their recent national meeting in Yola, Adamawa State singled him out among the governors in the country for elimination.
The Benue State Governor made this call Saturday in a chat with newsmen after he survived an ambush by people suspected to be Fulani militia at Tyo-Mu, an outskirt of Makurdi the Benue State capital at about 11:00am.
Governor Ortom who said as usual, he went to his farm and on his way back, some people who dressed in black attire, numbering over 15 started shooting at him noted that, he run for over one and half kilometers to the place where his official vehicle and his security operatives’ vehicles where parked. He commended the efforts of his security operatives attached to him, for repelling the attack.
According to Governor Ortom, his life is in the hands of God Almighty and nobody, including Fulani herdsmen can kill him or make the people of Benue their slaves. He called on security operatives to go after his attackers who are hiding in a forest between Makurdi and Abinsi.
“I wonder seriously, if even I as the number one citizen of Benue State can be attacked in this manner with conventional security operatives around me. I imagine the fate of people who go to their farms without arms and security agencies around them,” he stated.
Governor Ortom applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for taking quick action to the letter he wrote to him, and given a Presidential Order to security agencies to shoot at sight, anyone who is unlawfully in position of arms, especially AK-47, as well as his order for the country’s security agencies to tighten security at the borders of the country. He appealed to the President to give order for the arrest of the leaders of Miyetti Allah who are are making the country and the states in particular, ungovernable.
He also applauded the Ekiti State Governor who also doubles as the National Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Chief Kayode Fayemi for publicly declaring the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as a total failure for its inability to provide security for its citizens, even though, he is from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Ortom said, he will continue to stand firm for the defence of his people, while he added that, nothing shall move him to repeal the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the state, since it is the law enacted by the people of the state and appealed to the state to cooperate with him to win the battle.
