The Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has called on the federal government to synergise with his administration and step up military operations that will flush out armed herdsmen from neighbouring states bordering Benue.
He said this will help end the invasion of Benue communities by killer herdsmen who have continued to use the porous nature of the state borders to invade hapless communities on the Benue side of the border.
The governor made the call in a statement by his chief press secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur in reaction to the killing of scores of villagers from Ahentse in Ndzorov council ward of Guma local government.
Governor Ortom who expressed sadness over the recent attack on Tse Ahentse, near Iyordye in Guma Local Government Area at dawn on Tuesday, said it is time the federal government further “steps 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.”
He emphasised that “It is time to end this unnecessary shedding of innocent blood.
Ortom recalled how he has been synergising with his counterparts by holding joint security and peace meetings to build confidence amongst the people so that they will live in peace with one another.
He bemoaned “the situation where killer herdsmen take shelter with our neighbours, sneak in and kill our people without provocation” saying, “this will not be tolerated any longer.
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“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.” He added
The Governor while commending the security agencies for their steadfastness and commitment to ending the crises, called on Benue people to begin to arm themselves with “lawful weapons as prescribed by law and defend themselves against the Fulani invaders.”
Ortom maintained that it is no longer fashionable to continue to cry out for help urging his people to be at alert and ready to confront these killers.
In the early hours of Tuesday suspected herdsmen launched an attack in Tse-Ahentse, Ndzorov in Guma local government area of the State killing 5, injuring 2 with some still missing.
Nzorov is the council ward of Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State and Principal Special Assistant on Soecial Duties, Abrahams Kwaghngu.
The Governor’s spokesman discloses the identities of those killed to include Clement Tortiv, Enoch Utim, Terkimbi Kutaer, Mtaaega Tyogbea and Aondoaver Swende.
While those injured and hospitalized are Sunday Gaga and Torkwase Igbira.
Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie
