Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom has called for the arrest of leaders of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) after he suffered an attack from Fulani Herdsmen on his farm.
Ortom recounted his ordeal with suspected herdsmen who shot sporadically at him when he was in his farm located at Adeke along Makurdi-Naka road.
He made this disclosure during a live radio programme closely monitored by security agents in Makurdi.
“Just last week, I was on my farm that is situated in the outskirts of Makurdi town when armed herdsmen came there and shot at me.
“They also shot at the vehicle of our Livestock Guards who came there and shattered it. We had to call the joint military security team, Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, who came and saved the situation,”
Ortom described the continuous influx of herdsmen into the state as worrisome. He also accused the herders of partnering with ISIS and Boko Haram terrorists to cause havoc in the state.
“We are doing everything possible to arrest the situation. These people are deliberately coming into the state. And I have always maintained that armed herdsmen, ISWA, ISIS and Boko Haram are the same thing and they are out to prosecute the same agenda.”
Ortom has since called for the arrest and prosecution of Miyetti Allah’s leaders as he believes they are the masterminds behind herdsmen attacks in Benue state.
“There are no two ways about that. Even when we went for the North Central Security meeting. l told them the same thing. Miyetti Allah leadership should also be arrested because majority of all the kidnappings you see around are carried out by armed herdsmen.”
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“They are creating a lot of insecurity and hardship for the people, the federal government must ensure they are arrested and prosecuted just like we are arresting those involved in open grazing in Benue.”
“The situation has become a big challenge because the farmers in Benue state are not allowed to have cutlasses but herdsmen are allowed to carry AK47. It is not correct, we cannot allow them to get into Benue and continue to create problems for us.”
“Our Livestock Guards do not have guns to confront the armed herdsmen which is a big challenge. But we have been working with the Civil Defence and the trained Agro Rangers who are armed and we will collaborate with them to also help us ensure that herdsmen occupying our communities are moved out to allow the displaced persons return home to a secured environment.”
“Many have asked why we still leave people in the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camps, but how do I send people home to go and die in this situation?” added Gov. Ortom