Governor Ortom Raises Alarm over Fulani invasion of Benue

Samuel Ortom, Governor of Benue state has raised alarm over the influx of Fulani herdsmen in the state saying it is an invasion.

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The Governor made this known while attending a special mass at the St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Mbalom, where several priests and parishioners were killed about seven months ago by armed herdsmen.

Ortom alleged that Fulani herdsmen had openly declared that there would be bloodbath if they were not allowed entry into Benue state.

Samuel Ortom said further that it was a thing of shame for a former state Governor George Akume, who represents the seven local government areas under constant herdsmen attack, to assert that the pastoralists were not responsible for the killings in Benue.

“Herdsmen are still making efforts to enter the state to cause mayhem. I have been informed that Fulani herdsmen are leaving Nasarawa State and are moving into Benue State to cause problems.” He said

While speaking earlier, the Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Makurdi, Wilfred Anagbe, had implored politicians to stop putting the lives of people in danger for their selfish reasons in order not to incur God’s wrath.

He also called on public office holders to embark on life-changing programmes that would make them to attract goodwill from the electorate while lamenting that some Christian faithfuls were being used to cause disharmony and attack themselves for selfish reasons.

Anagbe particularly implored the senator representing Benue North-West, Akume, to tender an immediate apology to the people of Benue over his recent statements accusing Benue indigenes of killing themselves rather than Fulani herdsmen.

According to the Bishop, it was very disheartening for George Akume to try to change the narrative when similar killings are being carried out in Plateau, Katsina, Zamfara and Taraba states.

“One of the slain priests, Felix Tyolaha, was displaced from Guma by the herdsmen before he was posted to Mbalom. His death came two days after he raised the alarm on his Facebook page that Fulani herdsmen had surrounded Mbalom but that he was not going to leave the place.

Are those killing innocent people in Jos, Katsina, Taraba, Zamfara, Nasarawa also Benue people? Many children are without parents, wives without husband’s and husband’s without wives because they have been killed by the herdsmen.” He said.