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Tag: Samuel Ortom

  • Miyetti Allah leaders to Buhari: Call Ortom to order

    ….Say they’re not terrorists

     

    Leadership of Fulani Pastoralist groups Friday rose from an emergency meeting in Kaduna, calling on President Muhammadu to call Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom to order over the anti-open grazing law in that state.

    These groups reiterated that, they would do everything legally possible to resist such law that is against their culture, movement and economic interests.

    Their position was contained in a communiqué jointly signed by National President, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Socio-cultural Association, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodejor, his Secretary, Engr Saleh Alhassan and Chairman Communiqué Drafting Committee,  Garus Gololo.

    The communiqué read in part, “that we condemned the call by some desperate and jobless groups under the leadership of one Ariyo Atoye a jobless youth parading the streets of Abuja looking for crumbs from corrupt Politicians agitating for the profiling and stigmatisation of Fulani Pastoralist in Nigeria.

    Read Also:Killings: Court asked to declare Miyetti Allah terrorists

    “We urged the Attorney General to ignore their letter as they are hired agents by a sinking Governor who is notorious for funding and arming militia groups causing havoc to the Fulani Pastoralist in the Benue Valley.

    “We totally reject the repressive and oppressive ‘Anti-open Grazing Law’ as it is fundamentally going against our culture, economic interest and constitutional rights and will deploy all the necessary legal means as enshrined in our constitution to challenge it.

    “Consequently, we affirmed our support and solidarity for the legal action taken by the Miyetti Allah Kautal HoreFulani Socio- cultural Association to challenge the negative Benue anti- grazing law at the Federal High Court Abuja.

    “That Pastoralists, like all citizens of Nigeria, have the right to move freely and to reside in any part of the country. They also have a right to own property in any part of the country and enjoy the right of freedom from discrimination like any other citizen of the country.

    “We call on the National Assembly to leave up to their responsibility because the inter-state movement of pastoralists is analogous to inter-state commerce, which is an exclusive preserve of the legislative powers of the National Assembly under item 62 of the Exclusive Legislative List. To this effect, any action taken by a state Assembly is in conflict with above section of the 1999 constitution as amended.

    “We are calling on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Inspector General of Police, The Senate President, The Speaker of The House of Representatives and Our Royal Fathers to call the Benue state Governor to order as his actions and continuous threat to the leadership of the Fulani Pastoralists by the governor is a serious threat to peaceful coexistence.

    “That we appreciates the efforts being put by the Federal and States governments in addressing the security challenges facing the Fulani Pastoralist particularly cattle rustling , kidnapping and banditry.

    “That we totally condemn the attempt to profile the Fulani race and urge the press should investigate the veracity of their stories before going to press.

    “Finally, we are appealing to His Excellency President Mohammadu Buhari to Call the H.E Governor Samuel Ortom to order as his actions are a fundamental threat to peaceful coexistence and food security in Nigeria.”

    The representatives of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Funali Socio- cultural Association, Tabital Pulaaku Nigeria Chapter, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Mobgal Fulbe Development Association, Gam Allah Fulani Development Association, Fulani Title Holders Association, Pastoral Resolve (PARE), Jonde Jam Fulani Youth Association attended that meeting.

  • Church killings: Benue declared May 22 Work Free day

    Governor Samuel Ortom has declared May 22, as work free day in Benue to enable mourners attend the burial of two priest and 17 worshipers killed in church attacked .

    The priest and the 17 worshippers will buried at a Catholic Pilgrimage center on Makurdi – Otukpo Road .

    Already worked as commenced on the site as Catholic Youth Organisation ( CYO) members where seen digging the graves when The Nation visited .

    Read Also: Benue, Ortom and Governance Failure

    The road to the burial site had been cleared and a transformer was seen mounted .

    A Catholic Youth Organisation (CWO)/member James Nongu told The Nation that are working at the site at no cost in memory of those killed

  • Benue killings: Ortom appear before House

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has expressed optimism that the renewed commitment shown by the Federal Government concerning the killings in the State will end the bloodbath in the State.

    Speaking Thursday when he appeared before the State Lawmakers who summoned him to throw light on measures taking by the State Security Council to halt the incessant killings, Governor Ortom said the deployment of additional security personnel will solve the problem.

    He commended the Federal Government for deploying more military, police and Civil Defense personnel to the State.

    The Governor appealed to the people of the State to unite against external aggressors rather than engaging in internal conflicts.

    Commenting on the arrest of Mr. Tashaku Aliyu, Governor Ortom said he has no problem with his arrest but said justice should be done in his case do that in the end, truth will prevail.

    In his remarks, Speaker, Mr. Terkimbi Ikyange commended the Governor for his doggedness in resisting the take over of Benue land and assured him of the support of the House

  • May Day: Ortom assures workers of regular payment of salaries

    … Commends Civil Society On Fight Against Insurgency

     

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has reassured Benue workers of his administration’s commitment towards payment of their salaries regularly starting from this year, even as he commended the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations in the state for their relentless efforts towards the enactment of the anti open grazing law.

    Speaking on Tuesday at the IBB Square Makurdi, venue for the 2018 May Day celebration which was used to rather offer prayers for the slain indigenes of the state, the Governor thanked Benue workers for their resilience and support in the face of irregular payment of salaries occasioned by the dwindling allocation from the federal government.

    He stated that true to the promise of regularizing payment of salaries from January 2018, his administration has since shown commitment in that regard even as he said plans were on the way to clear arrears adding that all issues of omissions and other related problems inherent in the current payment exercise were being also resolved.

    The Governor who reinstated his resolve to protecting lives and properties of Benue people stated that the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017 has now become a model in the country and revealed that he was only encouraged to stand by the law in the face of physical threat to his life because of the encouragement he received from Benue people irrespective of their political, religious and ethnic divide.

    In his address, the chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Godwin Anya who said every 1st May was set aside to celebrate the supreme price paid by many workers in the course of the struggle for improved working condition, however, regretted that for them in Benue State, this year’s celebration has been turned into mourning with the government and people of the state over the killings of citizens by Fulani militias.

    The Labour leader condemned the act of killing of law abiding citizens in the state and called on President Muhammedu Buhari to decisively deal with the issue assuring the Governor of workers support for him on the implementation of the anti-open grazing law.

    While commending the state government for its effort in regularizing workers’ salaries as reflected in the payment of salaries from January till date, Comrade Anya urged the Governor to quickly look into the outstanding arrears with the view of clearing them soon.

    Other expectations of the union that are yet to be met by government according to the union leader included the issues of heavy taxation, job creation, resumption of payment of Annual Leave Grant, payment of retirement benefits among many others.

    High points of the event were words of exhortations and prayers by various men of God as well as a solidarity rally by the Coalition of Civil Society organizations led by Rev Dave Ogbole.

  • Benue killings: Ortom cuts short vacation

    Governor Samuel Ortom has cut short his vacation to return home and address the security challenge occasioned by the ongoing killing of Benue people by armed Fulani herdsmen.

    13 people, two Catholic priest and 11 Parishioners were killed in a early morning attacked at a Catholics church in Mbalom, Gwest east local government area in Benue State.

    This brings the number of people killing by suspected Fulani herdsmen to 45 since Governor Ortom proceeded on his annual leave.

    Last week killing took place in Logo, Guma, Makurdi and Naka by suspected Fulani militia.

    In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Chief Terver Akase said the Governor is in China would arrived Makurdi any moment to help tackle the security challenges occasions  by attacked on harmless farmers by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

  • Six Tiv farmers killed by Fulani herdsmen

    Suspected Fulani herdsmen killed six Tiv farmers in Agasha town ,Guma, Local Government area in Benue state.

    The attacked on Agasha town, a farming community located on the old Abinse- Tyulen – Wukari federal highway occurred at about 1 am to 2am on Wednesday Night .

    Governor Samuel Ortom hails from Guma Local Government and the placed has been under sustained attacked and killings by Fulani herdsmen since new year.

    Narrating how the incident happened, a community leader Chief Aondona Adzuu told The Nation that the invaders stormed Agatha town when everyone was sleep and went from house to house shooting people.

    “They slaughtered some people while others were machete and their houses set ablaze”

    He said six people were shot and killed on Wednesday night while others sustained serious injuries.

    Police Spoke man Moses Yamu, a DSP confirmed the incident and said only three people were killed.

    This is the third time in two weeks that Agasha town has come under attacked.

  • Ortom urged youths to defend themselves with stones

    Governor Samuel Ortom has charged Benue youths to defend their land from invasion by militia herdsmen with stones.

    He stated this on Wednesday at Gwer-West Local Government Secretariat, Naka while addressing displaced persons as a result of recent attacks on some communities in the area where 24 persons were gruesomely murdered.

    The Governor charged the youths to work closely with security agencies in defending their land, stressing that David killed Goliath with just a stone.

    He stated that the state government was working with local governments and traditional rulers to strengthen the vigilante and livestock guards to assist conventional security agencies in containing insecurity in the state.

    While noting that there was no going back on the ranching law of the state, Governor Ortom stated that people were free to do their livestock business in the state but must ranch or face prosecution.

    Read Also: Ortom vows not to interfere with judiciary

    He said recent projection by Northern Governors revealed that Nigeria’s population would reach 450 million by 2050, adding that with a fixed land mass, open grazing of livestock would be impracticable in the country.

    The Governor lamented that security agents had also fallen victims of herdsmen attacks, noting that eleven police officers, three civil defence officers and a soldier had been killed by militia herdsmen since January 2018.

    In a remark, Ter Tyoshin, Chief Daniel Abomtse stated that Gwer West Local Government had witnessed 24 attacks since February 2011 till date with 212 deaths, stressing that in the last attack, 24 people were gruesomely murdered.

    Chief Abomtse who called for the stationing of military personnel at Kula to check activities of militia herdsmen stated that abandoned farms owned by Lower Benue River Basins Development Authority was being used by the invaders as base.

    On his part, chairman Gwer West Local Government Council, Mr. Francis Ayagah acknowledged the prompt intervention of the Governor and pledged the support of people of the area to full implementation of the ranching law.

  • I’m having sleepless nights – Ortom

     

    The governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom lamented over the condition and welfare of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state, stating that it has become his cause of worry as he could no longer sleep with his eyes closed over the IDPs losing their homes due to the attacks by Fulani herdsmen.

    Governor Ortom made this known during tour of four IDPs camps at Abagana, R.C.M Daudu, Shelter Daudu and Gbajimba as a psychosocial visit to the IDPs.

    “We are here to show our solidarity to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and assure you that we cannot sleep with our eyes closed, even as we have continued to work in the manner that peace would be restored in attacked communities, so that people can go back to their ancestral homes.

    “I cannot sleep in government house because I think about how you people are faring. I think about how over 12,000 of you in just one camp are coping outside your homes.

    “God should strengthen the President. We appreciate the efforts of the President but we are appealing that exercise Ayem-A-Kpatuma should be upgraded to an operation that would ensure that those who have been sacked by Fulani herdsmen can go back to their ancestral homes” he said.

    Earlier during the tour, the Executive Secretary State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Mr Emmanuel Shior gave statistics of the population of the four camps at 34,019, 12,262, 11,782 and 24,019 respectively, making the total number of IDPs 82,562 comprising of the elderly, physically challenged, nursing mothers, pregnant women and children.

    Read Also: US envoy backs Ortom on ranching

    Shior stated that the state government, Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), Faith-based organizations (FBOs) and spirited individuals have been very supportive to the upkeep of IDPs and maintenance of camps, stating that more is needed as there were new entrants into some of the camps today.

    “We sincerely and heartily appreciate his excellency, Gov Samuel Ortom, NGOs, FBOs and all spirited individuals who have been supportive in the upkeep of the IDPs and the running of the camps in the areas of health, emergency education, sanitation and security.

    “Regardless of the various supports, going back home remains the ultimate for the IDPs.Whatever is done will not be enough because even today we had new arrivals. We appreciate the Federal Government for the support of the National Emergency and Management Agency (NEMA). NEMA was here once and we hope that more intervention from the Federal Government would be had.” Mr Shior said.

    Rev. Tom Igya during an exhortation, encouraged the people (IDPs) not to give up on God, as no one can find help outside God, reading from the Bible in the book of Second Kings 6:27 – “And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barn floor, or out of the winepress?”.

    Rev Igya admonished the people to turn to God and surrender all to Him, as God would in turn fight their battles and grant them victory over their adversaries.

  • PDP, APC bicker over anti-open grazing bill

     

    The anti-open grazing bill sent to the Edo State House of Assembly by the Peoples Democratic Party has sparked a fresh row between the party and the ruling All Progressive Congress.

    Speaking in Benin City at a lecture series organized by the Gatekeepers, a former Commissioner for Works and Transport in Benue State, Mr. John Ngbede, said the passage of the bill proposed by the PDP will stop destructive activities of Fulani herdsmen.

    But State Chairman of the APC,  Barr. Anselm Ojezua, described the proposed PDP’s bill as a political pamphlet that has no solutions to the menace of Fulani herdsmen.

    The former Benue Commissioner who urged Edo lawmakers to pass the bill stated that the problems of Fulani herdsmen was beyond the ruling APC.

    Ngbede disclosed that they succeeded in chasing the Fulani herdsmen out of Agatu in Benue State because of resilient of the people.

    He added Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, agreed to support the anti-open grazing bill because of the 2019 general elections

    He said, “The herdsmen do not reason like humans. It will take courage for Edo lawmakers to pass the anti-open grazing bill. The lawmakers will have to look at it.

    “We should say no to open grazing because the Fulani herdsmen will become a problem if you allow them.”

    “Activities of herdsmen in Benue is worrisome. We are pleading with the federal government to help the state government implement the anti-open grazing law. There will be no problem if the law is supported.”

    State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, said Governor Godwin Obaseki must listen to the cries of the people to protect them from herdsmen.

    Chief Orbih warned against the use of state instrument to suppress the opposition for democracy to survive.

    The Edo PDP proposed bill prohibiting open rearing and grazing of livestock across the state provides for the establishment of ranches and livestock administration, regulation and control.

    Barr. Ojezua however urged the APC lawmakers not to hesitate to throw the bill away.

    His words, “Have your read the proposed bill? I saw it myself and it is a political phamlet that does not find any solution to the issue of herdsmen menace. Our people should not waste time in throwing out the document. It is not a serious document. The problem is deeper than what they have proposed.”

    Chairman of the occasion, Justice Roland Amaize, urged the state government to do the needful by not making cattle rearing its business but that of private individuals.

    His words, “Herdsmen menace is Edo is troubling and sickening. I do hope that whatever we do here will provide the legal framework to check the menace.”

  • Three herdsmen convicted for violating ranching law –Ortom

    Three herdsmen convicted for violating ranching law –Ortom

    Buhari visit Benue Monday

    Three herdsmen have been convicted in Benue State for violating the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law.

    Governor Samuel Ortom disclosed this while addressing party officials and council chairmen during the State Working Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

    He stated that over hundred had been arrested for contravening the law, stressing that assurances had also been given by security agents to help enforce implementation of the ranching law.

    The Governor said Fulani herdsmen who were causing insecurity in the country were enemies of the APC and all Nigerians, even as he called for the arrest and prosecution of leaders of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore and other Fulani leaders for their inflammatory statements

    Governor Ortom acknowledged the support of the party to his administration especially at its trying moment, assuring that he would not betray the confidence it had reposed in him.

    Read Also: Herdsmen/farmers clashes: Oyo in search of peace

    He tasked the APC on the rule of law, respect for the party’s constitution and the use of dialogue in addressing issues including primaries, saying doing so would reduce acrimony among party members and their supporters.

    The Governor also told the party’s working committee that issues of irregular payment of salaries were being addressed with improved federal allocation to states.

    He officially broke the news of the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Benue next Monday to commiserate with people of the state over herdsmen attacks and massacre of Benue people.

    Earlier in a welcome address, State Chairman of APC, Comrade Abba Yaro pledged continued support of the party to the Ortom-led administration, adding that his residence and steadfastness in the wake of herders attacks was commendable.