times by Fulani Herdsmen, has admitted paying millions of Naira to a nomadic, among other pressing issues. While speaking in an exclusive interview, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, responded to issues bordering on the call for the declaration of state of emergency in the state, the security situation in the state and his relationship with herdsmen.
Below are excerpts:
What is your reaction to the call by Governor Wike for the declaration of State of Emergency in Benue State?
It is laughable and unfortunate because if you talk about declaring state of emergency because of killings I am aware that there are more killings in Rivers than Benue State. Here we know the rules while in Rivers State there is no rule of law. When you do things as if there is no leadership, you take laws into your hands, we don’t do that here and I will not subscribe to taking laws into my hands or anybody taking laws into his hands in Benue State.
One thing I know is that we are on top of the situation we have found ourselves in. The issue of herdsmen we have brought it under control. The issue of criminality we have brought it under control. I inherited a state that was ravaged by criminality, killings, terror, assassinations and kidnappings.
When last did you hear that somebody was kidnapped in Benue State? When last did you hear armed robbery took place in Benue State? If you talk about rivalry between herdsmen and farmers it is not just peculiar to Benue State. We have sent a bill to the State House of Assembly. We are proposing that ranching is the option, no need for open grazing which even the herdsmen themselves confirmed.
0 comments: