After Buhari Warned Against Reprisal, Ortom Tells Benue People ‘Defend Yourselves’

Samuel Ortom, Benue State governor has told the people of his state to “defend themselves lawfully” as the police can no longer guarantee their safety.

This comes after the Force PRO, Jimoh Moshood, called Ortom a “drowning man” on national television.

The governor who slammed the Police for failing to adequately tackle the herdsmen crisis in his state, denied the IGP’s claim that the arrested militia members in his state are members of Benue Livestock Guards.

He described the Police boss “as the mouthpiece of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore”, urging him to “resign his current position to serve full time in his new job”.

“Those people are not members of our Livestock Guard. It is just a planned thing,” he said.

“Fulani militia have come out in video to display the kind of weapons that they have and everyone has seen it; that is also not enough for the IGP to arrest these people.

“But he chose to declare that we have militia in Benue state. If we have militia in the state, will the herdsmen come and kill our people the way they did and are currently doing?

“It is because we are law-abiding. I think the people should have the right to defend themselves and not make themselves easy prey to be killed in their homes.

“So any lawful means you can adopt to defend yourself in Benue State, just go ahead. We are not going to wait for the inspector-general of police to do it because he has failed in his assignment.”

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday warned victims of suspected Fulani herdsmen attack not to engage in reprisals attacks.

He said that his administration would not tolerate the barbaric acts.

Speaking at the commissioning Comprehensive Special School in Lafia, Nasarawa State, the President said his government was working hard towards ensuring peace and stability returned to the troubled states.

He disclosed that additional resources had already been deployed to all the affected areas to end the crisis and maintain law and order.