A raging fire has reportedly razed the orchard belonging to former President Olusegun Obasanjo at Howe in Gwer Local Government Area of Benue State.
Reacting to the unfortunate incident Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom in a statement by his chief press secretary Nathaniel Ikyur expressed sadness and ordered a full scale investigation into the incident “to unravel the remote and immediate cause of the fire outbreak”.
Governor Ortom noted that he had been briefed by the Gwer local council chairman and directed that where it is discovered that the fire was an act of sabotage, the perpetrators must be brought to book.
He insisted that no act of sabotage will be tolerated, saying that his government has a deliberate policy to encourage local and foreign investors especially in Agriculture.
The Governor therefore tasked security operatives in the state to do all that is necessary to get to the root of the matter forthwith.
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He said, “it is the height of irresponsibility for anyone to think of setting ablaze a farm that is set to, in a very near future, boost the economic development of the area in particular and state in general.
“Obasanjo as a former president is a statesman and need to be accorded his due respect anywhere in Nigeria and Benue state cannot be an exception.
According to briefs by the council chairman over half of the mango farm covering over 139 hectares of land got razed and four suspects have been arrested and more are being trailed to be apprehended.
Otserga said he suspected foul play, in his words “from the look of things, the fire was caused by the deliberate act of mischief makers.
The farm is well safeguarded, there is no way fire can cross over from any quarter into the farm”.
(Editor : Paul Akhagbemhe)
