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Tag: Samuel Ortom

  • Okpokwu killings: Death toll raises from 9 to 40

    Okpokwu killings: Death toll raises from 9 to 40

    Governor Samuel Ortom has visited Omusu community, Edumoga where Fulani herdsmen massacred  over 40 people.

    Hon Francis Olofu Ogwuche, chairman Okpokwu council told the governor he had earlier visited the community for a peace meeting.

    According to him, shortly after he left the place he received a distress call that Fulani men have invaded the area killing and maiming children and women.

    He said he immediately mobilised security agencies to the scene but the attackers had already fled leaving death and destruction of properties.

    Gov Ortom condemned the attack on this community and charged security agencies to arrest the perpetrators of this dastardly act.

    The community has been deserted for fear of further attacks and the dead bodies have been deposited at the morgue of a government medical facility at Okpoga.

    The survivors among them women and children are been treated at various hospitals .

    Okpokwu is in Benue south senatorial zone and the country home of former Minister of Interior Comrade Abba Morro.

    Police spokesman DSP Moses Yamu said only 15 people have been killed and police are on top of the situation.

  • Five dead in IDP camps – Ortom

    Five dead in IDP camps – Ortom

     

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom said five Internally Displaced Persons  (IDPs) including three children taking refuge at designated camps in Benue State have died.

    He said the IDPs fled their homes as a result of the sustained fulani killing are in various IDPs camps

    Governor Samuel Ortom made this known on Friday when the National Commission For Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMI) visited the state to distribute relief items for displaced people.

    Ortom said that two of the five deceased were crushed by a truck while crossing the busy highway around the location of the Abegana camp, as he expressed worry that they ran away from their homes to secure their lives but found death in the camp.

    Earlier, the Federal Commissioner of NCRMI, Sadiya Umar Farouq, said during the visit to two of the IDPs camps situated in Guma Local Government Area, near Makurdi out of a total of nine camps in the state that the intervention was meant to ameliorate the sufferings of some Persons Of Concerns (POCs) to the commission.

    “Let me state that the items provided for our POCs does not reflect the totality of our interventions, rather a demonstration of our continued support to the Benue State Government in its efforts to provide succour and other necessary social services for our POCs and communities in the State,” she said.

    Read Also: Ortom: I’ll keep crying until we get justice

    Represented by Mr Charles Anaelo, the commissioner noted that the NCFRMI was aware of the influx of over 10, 000 Cameroonian migrants presently in Kwande Local Government Area of the Benue state, adding that the commission in collaboration with the United Nation High Commission for the Refugees (UNHCR) is currently conducting data  registration of all the victims for further necessary action.

    She therefore reiterated the commission’s commitment to continue to work very hard to ensure that the lives of the IDPs are improved, rehabilitated and fully restored while stressing that in this phase of intervention, the commission had distributed food, care and empowerment items to POCs in the state

  • I’ll keep crying until we get justice – Ortom

    I’ll keep crying until we get justice – Ortom

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has said he will keep speaking out on the invasion and ongoing killings in the state until the people of the state get justice.

    He spoke when a delegation of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, South South Zone, led by Archbishop God-Dowell Oyibo Avwomakpa, visited him at the Peoples House in Makurdi.

    He said if those saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and property had acted promptly on reports which he made about threats to invade the state, subsequent massacre could have been averted.

    Governor Ortom reiterated his call for the resignation or sack of the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, for his unprofessional conduct of taking sides with the invaders and lack of capacity to stop the killings.

    According to the Governor, the sacking of communities and killings had continued after the burial of the 73 victims adding that several security operatives had been killed and their rifles taken by the Fulani herdsmen.

    He said herdsmen attacks had become an enormous national problem which patriots across the country must rise up to tackle decisively.

    The Governor commended the people of the South-South for rallying support for the state in its time of need more than any part of the country and prayed that God would reward them.

    Earlier, Archbishop Avwomakpa called on President Muhammadu Buhari to defend the people of the state as Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the country.

    He said the delegation visited to get first-hand information so as to know how to cry to fellow Christians in other parts of the world to come to the aid of fellow Christians in Benue State.

    The delegation had also visited and donated relief items to some of those displaced by the crisis in one of the seven camps.

    Read Also: http://staging.thenationonlineng.net/ortom-senate-igp-taken-side-benue-killings/

     

  • Benue: Is Ortom flirting with PDP?

    Benue: Is Ortom flirting with PDP?

    SINCE the new year killings of 73 farmers in Benue state by suspected Fulani herdsmen, Governor Samuel Ortom had being at loggerheads with the federal government and security agencies, particularly the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris. Even though Governor Ortom visited Aso Rock alongside some prominent Benue elders and met with President Muhammadu Buhari recently, observers say the relationship between the duo may be worsening.

    Governor Ortom is simply that those who attacked and killed Benue people are known and must be arrested and prosecuted. He pointedly accused Meyitta Allah Kautal Houre , a Fulani group, of being the brain behind the attacks and killings  in the state . “I had informed the Inspector General of Police through a letter and all other security agencies of the plan attacks but nothing was done ” said Ortom.

    The governor, while organizing mass burial for the victims of the killings, lambasted the All Progressive Congress (APC) for failing to protect lives and property in Benue state. In addition, he had at several fora, called for the resignation of the Inspector General of Police.

    The continued altercation between Governor Ortom, who of the ruling APC and the federal government has provided an opportunity for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party( PDP) to exploit the situation to its advantage. So far Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, had visited Benue and donated N200 million to support the internally displaced  persons (IDPs). Wike ,who also visited the grave site where 73 persons are buried, advised Ortom to return home.

    Many commentators are now interpreting Wike’s statement as an invitation to the Governor to return to the PDP where he originally belong to before defecting to APC to contest in the 2015. Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state, another PDP governor also came calling on Governor Ortom during the week. Like Wike, he visited the burial site and donated N10 million. He told the Governor to “join another vehicle” to continue his political journey as the one he is currently has broken down.

    Fayose used the occasion and told Governor Ortom that ‘ When you entered a vehicle and there is break down, you come down and join another to continued your journey . The message from Ayo Fayose was quite understanding ,he was telling Ortom to return to PDP. Before he joined APC during the 2015 was the minster of state for under President Goodluck administration ,he also over see Aviation Ministy when Oduah was sacked from office.

    With such development and recent statements of the governor himself, many observers are insinuating that Governor Ortom may be done with APC and on his way out of the party. Thus, his recent romance with PDP governors is seen by many as indications of the things to come as the 2019 general elections draws nearer.

    Following the above indications, some people within and outside the state are already asking the pertinent question; which party will he joined ? The easily available platform for him to seek is the PDP. But he will have to cross some hurdles to achieve that given the current soured relationship between him and the leadership of his former party in the state. A commission of enquiry set up by Ortom probed former Governor Gabriel Suswam and many PDP leaders in the state.

    The commission turned in a verdict which suggests that  over 109 billion was looted during the eight year tenure of Governor Suswam. Suswam, his aides, Commissioners and many others were harassed by several anti graft agencies. Suswam is still standing trial in an Abuja federal court alongside Oklobia Omadanchi, his Finance Commissioner, over alleged diversion of some investment funds.

    Suswam on his part denied any wrong doing and accused Governor Ortom of deliberate attempt to run him down politically. The two prominent Tiv sons took their fight to the media. There was and still biter rivalry between their political camps. Suswam is the leader of PDP in Benue state and the sole financier of party. Both Wike and Fayose visited Gabriel Suswam in his Makurdi residence during their visit to Ortom, This is to under score his important in PDP.

    If Ortom joins the PDP, how will he handle his relationship with Suswam and other PDP leaders across the state? Will he drop the cases against Suswam and others? Well, in politics as they say, there is no permanent enemy while only permanent interests exist. But is Ortom toying with the idea of returning to the PDP? Only Time will tell.

  • “Defend Yourselves” – Ortom tells Benue Indigenes.

    “Defend Yourselves” – Ortom tells Benue Indigenes.

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has called on  the people of the state to brace up to defend themselves in the face of incessant killings by the herdsmen.

    The governor who spoke on a radio programme titled, ‘issue of the moment’ monitored by our correspondent on Tuesday said that it was necessary for them to do it in legitimate way so as not become easy prey to their killers.

    Governor Ortom noted that in spite of the presence of policemen in the state, killings were still on going in the two local government areas.

    He regretted that the statements credited to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris blaming the anti-open grazing law for the new year attacks has rather encouraged the herdsmen to continue with their attack on the state.

    Read Also: Ortom advises motorcyclists against jungle justice in Benue

    He also lamented the inability of the security operatives to stop the killings and arrest the killers as well as the perpetrators of the New Year killings.

    The governor explained that despite the presence of police, the killings in the state was yet to cease, expressing doubt of compromise among those who were supposed to provide security to the people of the state.

    According to him, ‘It is because we are law abiding that is why we are being attacked daily,’ adding,  ‘you need to listen and hear the opinion of the people of the state on the matter.’

    “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 just go ahead in Benue state. We are not going to wait for the Inspector General of Police, IGP, to do it.”

    The governor commiserate with families of the police personnel who were killed in the cause of carrying out their official duty in the state.

    “It is unfortunate, the Police are dying and the Inspector General of Police is playing politics with the issue.

    “The man should resign because he has failed woefully. He doesn’t have the capacity.

    “There are many good Police officers who can take over that job and perform creditably by turning around the security architecture of this country and make thing work and protect lives and property. That man has no business being the IGP,” Ortom lamented.

  • Benue: Gov. Ortom lifts Gboko curfew

    Benue: Gov. Ortom lifts Gboko curfew

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, today announced the lifting of the curfew on Gboko town.

    He made the announcement at a meeting he held with leaders of the Benue Motorcycle Association across the state and heads of security agencies at the Benue Peoples House.

    Governor Ortom reiterated his condemnation of the killings at the Gboko motorpart but maintained that the victims were not Fulani people as reported in some quarters.

    The Governor insisted that the criminals who carried out the condemnable act should be apprehended and prosecuted.

    He urged the people not to take the laws into the hands but to report infringements on their rights to the appropriate authorities. 

    The Governor expressed appreciation to the Motorcycle Association for their pledge to assist in tackling the security challenges in the state. 

    It could be recalled that a dusk to dawn curfew was imposed on Gboko town on 31st January, 2018, following security threats in the area.

  • Ortom advises motorcyclists against jungle justice in Benue

    Ortom advises motorcyclists against jungle justice in Benue

    Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has admonished members of Benue Motorcycle Association ( BEMOA ) against taking laws into their hands during crisis describing it as `unlawful’.

    Ortom gave the advice on Tuesday in Makurdi when BEMOA members led by its President, Mr Patrick Tachin paid him a visit.

    The governor urged them to always alert security agencies in case of security breach instead of carrying out jungle justice which was unconstitutional.

    “Tackling security challenge is the sole responsibility of security agencies and not for anyone to take laws into his or her hands, no matter the circumstances.

    “I urge you to partner with the state government to fight insecurity in the state, as security is the responsibility of all and sundry.

    “The security agencies need the support of the public to succeed,’’ he said.

    Read Also:Benue’ll not succumb to any move to repeal law  – Ortom

    In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police (CP) in the state, Mr Fatai Owoseni encouraged the association to strive to register its members as another means of checking insecurity.

    Owoseni urged them to refrain from spreading fake information, adding that the command under his watch would not tolerate impunity.

    Responding, the BEMOA President, Mr Tachin pledged on behalf of his members that they would comply with the governors directive and work together to address security challenges in the state.

    Tachin appealed to the governor to provide reflective jackets for them to distinguish them from other motorcycle riders who were not registered.

     NAN

  • ‘Benue: Herdsmen killed 2000 people in five years’

    ‘Benue: Herdsmen killed 2000 people in five years’

    Not less than 2000 people have been killed in Benue State with properties valued in billions of Naira destroyed by marauding Fulani herdsmen between 2013 and the early part of 2018.

    This is even as Governor Samuel Ortom has called for the removal of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mr. Ibrahim Idris for his failure to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of these “heinous” crimes.

    Breiefing newsmen in Makurdi ,the State Commissioner for Information, Lawrence Onoja Jnr. said the figure represents the official recorded number of people killed in the state within the period noting that other deaths were not recorded .

    Onoja who expressed concern at the recent security situation in the state regretted that authorities have failed to arrest the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore who issued the threats and had fulfilled their pledge to launch offensive on Benue communities.

    “The leaders of Miyeti Allah Kautal Hore have neither been arrested nor were they invited for questioning, rather different strategies have been devised by some of those saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and property to divert attention from the real issues”.

    He cited media statements credited to the Minister of defence and the IGP over the Benue killings saying such statements coming from the nation’s top security chiefs may have confirmed the fears expressed by many people that the herdsmen unleashing murderous attacks on Benue may have the backing of some highly placed individuals within the security apparatus of the country.

    “When those who are entrusted with the sensitive task of protecting lives and property of innocent Nigerians resort to placing unjustified blames on the good intentions of the Benue State government to promote peace and security, then such people have unknowingly or knowingly become part of the problem we have on our hands today in the country”.

    It would be recalled that the Senate recently gave the IGP two weeks ultimatum to arrest and bring to book perpetrators of the New Year attacks on Benue community which he has failed to do until now.

    “I insist that Ibrahim Idris, by his comments has demonstrated his incompetence as a Police chief and “we have lost confidence and trust in him since clearly he either lacks the capacity to apprehend these armed Fulani militia or by his inaction and utterances portrayed himself as complicit in the grand plot to disposess our people of their ancestral land by violent means”.

    “We call on the Federal Government to immediately relieve Ibrahim Idris from his position as the Police IGP as he has failed woefully in his duties especially as the two weeks ultimatum given him by the Senate to apprehend the killer herdsmen have elapsed without any meaningful arrests of the culprits but has resorted to unprofessionally trading blames rather than confronting the problem without fear or favour”.

    He also recalled the the president had  ordered the IGP to relocate to Benue in the wake of the new year day killings to restore peace and order saying that available records show that the police chief was sighted in the state for just a day or two after which he relocated to Nasarawa state.

    “It is obvious that the Police Boss does not accord any urgency and seriousness in arresting the perpetrators of the mass murder of our people and his body language may have embolden these militia herdsmen to further lay false claim of ownership to the Benue Valley through the so called right of conquest”.

    The Information Commissioner insisted that the State Government will neither stop speaking out on the injustices done to Benue nor suspend the Anti-Open Grazing and Establishment of Ranches Law for any reason and urged the police and other security agencies to rise up to their responsibilities by enforcing the law.

  • Benue’ll not succumb to any move to repeal law – Ortom

    Benue’ll not succumb to any move to repeal law – Ortom

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom says his government would not succumb to any intimidation or move to repeal the open grazing, prohibition and ranches establishment law.

    Governor Ortom stated this when he visited Three Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs ) camps including Abagena, LGEA Primary School Daudu and United Nations High Commission for refugees ( UNHC ) Shelter.

    He restated his resolve to continue to call on the Federal Government to rise and stop the killings and displacement of Benue people by Fulani herdsmen as such was the lawful thing to do.

    Governor Ortom stated that the federal government with the capacity to stop the killings in the state had allowed People to be playing game with the matter to divert attention by accusing his administration of raising Six Thousand militia men and making inflammatory remarks.

    The Governor directed the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Cecilia Ojabo to deploy a team of medical personnel to the Abagena IDP camp newly created to provide health services there.

    Governor Ortom also directed that security Personnel be provided at the new Abagena camp housing displaced persons from neighbouring Nasarawa State to ensure adequate security.

    He also called for humanitarian assistance from civil society groups,spirited individuals and the international community,adding that the number of displaced persons and their needs far outweigh resources of the state.

    Earlier, Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Mr. Emmanuel Shior said the Abagena camp has over Six Thousand most of who were from Nasarawa state, adding that relief materials had equally been deployed there.

  • I won’t stop talking on herdsmen killings – Ortom

    I won’t stop talking on herdsmen killings – Ortom

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, said on Monday he would not stop talking on the killing of harmless farmers by Fulani herdsmen until perpetrators of the act are arrested and brought to justice.

    Receiving a delegation of Nigeria Peace Ambassador who was on a fact- finding mission to the state, the governor said the only way the Federal Government can stop him from talking is to arrest members of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Houre who have openly confessed to the killing.

    “Let the Federal government shut my mouth by arresting those behind the killings, especially Miyetti Allah Kautal Houre who openly confessed to the killings,” Ortom said.

    He attributed the impunity in Benue to immunity conferred on Fulani herdsmen “who are above the law.”

    “The killings are going on because Fulani herdsmen are above the law in this country and as such they are killing people in Adamawa, Edo, Ekiti, Taraba and Plateau States. Yet no security agent has deemed it necessary to arrest any one of them to face the law,” Ortom added.