Benue: Gov Ortom blows hot as herdsmen kill five kinsmen in fresh attack

Governor Samuel Ortom has expressed sadness over the attack on his community, which left five of his kinsmen dead and several others injured.

IDOMA VOICE reports that over five people were killed and many others wounded when suspected herdsmen from Awe LGA of Nasarawa state through Damkor and Iordye invaded Ahentse community in Ndzorov Council Ward of Guma Local Government Area, LGA of Benue State.

Reacting, Governor Ortom called on the federal government to synergise with his administration to step up a military operations that would flush out armed herdsmen from the neighbouring states bordering Benue.

The Governor said the move would help end the invasion of Benue communities by the killer herdsmen who had continued to use the porous nature of the state borders to invade hapless communities on the Benue side of the border.

The Governor’s reaction was contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur issued Wednesday in Makurdi.

The Governor in the statement said “it is time the federal government further stepped up the military operations in states that share common boundaries with Benue state because these communities along the borders have become targets of the armed herders. It is time to end this unnecessary shedding of innocent blood and we can do it if we cooperate with each other.”

Governor Ortom recalled how he had been synergising with his counterparts by holding joint security and peace meetings to build confidence amongst the people so that they would live in peace with one another.

He however lamented that “the situation where killer herdsmen take shelter with our neighbours, sneak in and kill our people without provocation will not be tolerated any longer. Let the security agencies continue to cooperate with us in Benue to end this bloodletting. Let us dislodge these invaders from wherever they may be hiding for peace to return to our communities.”

While commending the security agencies for their steadfastness and commitment to ending the crisis the Governor called on Benue people to begin to arm themselves with “lawful weapons as presecribed by law and defend themselves against the Fulani invaders.”

“It is no longer fashionable to continue to cry out for help. We must now be at alert and ready to confront these killers. This is another way we can assist the security agencies in combating this menace since they are obviously overstretched beyond limits,” he added.