By Scholastica Joseph, Makurdi
Devastated by fresh attacks in two Benue communities, on Monday, Governor Samuel Ortom has again lamented the gruesome murder of 23 persons by hunmen suspected to be herdsmen.
Consequently, the Governor has directed the Benue people to rise up to defend themselves forthwith.
Sources from the affected community day no fewer than 8 persons were killed in Guma Local Government Area, on Monday night by herdsmen who invaded Mbadwem community and alao killed 15 in Tiortyu in Tarka local government area of Benue state same night.
According to thwm, scores of others were injured and are receiving treatment in undisclosed hospitals in the state.
Ortom who could not hide his anger said that “it is becoming increasingly glaring everyday that my people are now an endangered specie and so we can no longer wait for help from anywhere. My people will have to rise up to the occasion to defend themselves and their heritage against the Fulani army of occupation.”
“We are law abiding citizens. We have cried for help against these invaders but nothing is forthcoming. We are left alone and it looks like it is a deliberate strategy. Now we have only one option; to defend ourselves or get extinct. This is a case for our survival.
“We have been accommodating of other people in our land but our hospitality is misconstrued as weakness. We are not a conquered people. We will never be. We are free born citizens of Nigeria”, the Governor declared.a
Governor Ortom enjoined security operatives to do more in crime prevention and protection of lives and property in the land just as he urged the people to cooperate with security agencies to flush out the undesirable elements in the society.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, Ortom said he will not shy away from his commitment to provide welfare and security for the citizens.
