Governor Samuel Ortom has stated that since January 1st, 2018, Benue people have not known peace due to the activities of militia herdsmen.
He stated this on Tuesday during a cocktail party organized to honour delegates and stakeholders who were in the state for the Middle Belt Rally and Conference currently holding in Makurdi, the state capital.
The Governor while lamenting the continued killing and displacement of thousands from their ancestral homes by the herdsmen noted that he would continue to speak out and stand with his people until justice is ensured.
He commended the Federal Government for its renewed efforts in curtailing the attacks through operation Whirl Stroke, stressing that if the operation had started earlier, Benue wouldnโt have been where it is today.
The Governor also acknowledged the support of his Taraba State counterpart, Architect Darius Ishaku and the Middle Belt Forum for standing with Benue in her trying times, saying he was strengthened by their actions.
On his part, Taraba State Governor, Architect Darius Ishaku, said he and Governor Ortom passed through the eye of a needle to become Governor and were further bonded together by the similar challenges they were facing.
He stated that Nigeriaโs constitution is defective because it has rendered Governors incapacitated and โtoothless maimed dogsโ by making them Chief Security Officers that cannot command the security architecture in their respective states.
Governor Ishaku while adding His voice to several calls for the restructuring of Nigeria noted that there is something more than herdsmen behind the killings in the country, adding that if the Federal Government had wanted to solve the problem, it would take less than two months to achieve that.
In a remark, National President of the Middle Belt Forum, Mr. Bitrus Poga, urged Benue people to be very proud of Governor Ortom, noting that it takes courage to do what Governor Ortom was doing.
He said the Governorโs bravely was equal to none and should be encouraged to continue to speak for the less privileged in the country.
