The Executive Governor of Benue, Samuel Ortom has said that President Muhammad Buhari should be wary of the people who are around him.
He said this while reacting to a statement from the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali who blamed the attacks in Benue on the anti-open grazing law in the state.
Ortom described the minister’s statement as ignorant saying there had been more than 50 attacks in Benue between 2013 and 2017 when there was no such law. He also noted that states without the law had also seen similar attacks.
“There was no open grazing prohibition law in Benue between 2013 and April 2017, but Fulani herdsmen attacked the state more than 50 times. There is no such law in Enugu, Adamawa, Kaduna, Rivers, Plateau, Ondo, Edo etc, but herdsmen have been attacking people in those states. Give us another reason to “justify” the New Year attacks on innocent Benue people.”
“It’s amazing that the Federal Government is playing to the gallery instead of confronting the issue that is capable of consuming the whole country. Let Federal Government come and show me where I own 6,000 militia. I was the first governor to disarm militia and criminals. How about the herdsmen who are openly displaying weapons? Why have they not arrested them?… Iwill not surrender my land to foreigners. You can go and do that in your own state. It’s sad that those who are supposed to the assisting the President have instead, turned round to misinform him all for their selfish interest.”