Benue People Are Now Endangered Species, Rise Up In Self Defense – Gov. Ortom

Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom have called on his people to take up arms in self defense as they have become endangered species in the country.

The governor was quoted in a press release signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, in reaction to the Monday night attack in two communities by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

About 23 persons are feared dead from the attack on Mbadwem in Guma local government area and Tiortyu in Tarka local government area of Benue state.

Scores of others were injured and are receiving treatment in unnamed hospital in the state.

The release quoted Ortom as saying;

“it is becoming increasingly glaring every day that my people are now an endangered species 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”.

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.

He assured that the state government will not shy away from its commitment to provide welfare and the security for the citizens .