Benue: Ortom reacts as gunmen kill 12 persons in Itakpa near Otukpo

He has also directed the security agencies to deploy more security men to the area so that normalcy can be restored for those that fled the bustling community to return to their homes.

Governor Ortom, who was in Itakpa yesterday, 2/6/2020, to commiserate with the people and have a first hand assessment of the situation, condemned the attack, describing it as ”unwarranted, most unnecessary, very unlawful and totally unacceptable by the government”.

The governor who was represented by his deputy, Engr Benson Abounu visited Obarike-Ito where he addressed thousands of the women and children displaced from Itakpa. He also met with the Adirahu Ny’Igede, H.R.H, Chief Oga Ero and the Obi traditional council at the temporary palace of the Adutu ‘Obi, Chief Christopher Ijale.

Speaking at the two places, Governor Ortom commiserated with the people over the loss of their loved ones and the hardships they are facing as a result of their displacement from their homes.

He said the government would no longer tolerate the situation where innocent people are gruesomely killed in their homes and assured the people that everything will be done to unmask the identities of the killers, who are said to be Fulani herdsmen.

Governor Ortom, who stated that no one has the powers to take the life of another person, warned herdsmen that insist on open grazing of their cattle to find another state to do so, as the state would not tolerate the breach of its laws.

He, however, advised the people not to take the law into their hands but to always report any criminal action by herdsmen, such as open grazing and the destruction of their crops to the security agencies for appropriate action.

Responding, the Adirahu Ny’Igede, H.R.H, Chief Oga Ero, who expressed sadness at the unprovoked attack of his people, thanked the governor for quickly responding to the attack and coming there to commiserate with them and support the internally displaced people.

He called for a thorough investigation into the attack, which he said is becoming too frequent and more daring.

The governor was accompanied by the commissioner of Police, Benue State Police Command, CP Mukkadas, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Col. Paul Hemba (rtd) his counterpart on S.M.E, Ode Ageh, Obi local government Chairman, Joseph Orponyi and other government officials.