Benue: We will never allow attacks destroy future of our children – Ortom vows

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom says his administration has intensified collaboration with security forces through Operation Whirl Stroke to prevent further attacks on the people and ensure the return of displaced persons to their ancestral homes.

The Governor gave this assurance yesterday on his farm in Adaka, Makurdi local government area of the state.

Governor Ortom said the government was assessing the security situation in the affected communities of the state to determine when it would be safer for the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, to return home.

He stated that 60 percent of the displaced persons in the various camps were children within school age.

The Governor said herdsmen attacks had affected both farming and academic activities in a number of local government areas of the state.

He pointed out that in the past six months, children in the IDPs camps have not gone to proper school, aside the emergency classes organised for them by the state government, stressing that most schools in the attacked areas were burnt down by rampaging herdsmen.

The Governor, who also spoke on efforts made by state government in providing comfort to the IDPs, appreciated the services of non-governmental organisations, churches and individuals in supporting the state government to ensure victims of the crisis are given attention.

While emphasizing that the Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law would not be repealed, Governor Ortom predicted that just as June 12 has eventually been recognised, ranching would soon be embraced nationwide.