Benue under my watch will not bow to Fulani jihadists – Ortom

Governor Samuel Ortom says Benue State under his watch will not succumb to attacks by terrorists whether they are jihadists or militia herders whose sole target is occupation of the state and destruction of lives and property.

The Governor made this position known today while addressing journalists when he visited the scene of herders’ attack on Agboughul community of Makurdi Local Government Area where three people were killed and three others injured last night.

He stated that the pattern of the attack and killings barely four days after a similar incident at Tse-Angbande was unfortunate and bore the handwriting of mindless jihadists who had set out to overrun the state.

The Governor noted that the series of attacks were a grand plan to whittle down operations of Livestock Guards and Agro Rangers who are doing very well in containing attacks on communities and enforcing the ranching law of the state.

The Governor lamented that developed climes globally with higher number of cattle compared to Nigeria have no cases of conflicts between herders and farmers due to ranching which is also being practiced in Benue, stressing that he would continue to speak against impunity in the country.

The latest midnight attack in Agboughul community left three people dead – Barrister Moses Udam and his wife as well as elder Nyikyor Mazugu while three people are being treated for severe injuries sustained during the attack.