Governor Ortom lauds President Buhari on prompt intervention

GOVERNOR Samuel Ortom of Benue State has appreciated President Muhammad Buhari for quick intervention in restoring peace to the state.

Benue State had been in crises in recent times ranging from clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers as well as attacks by gunmen in some parts of the state.

Federal Government had deployed force men to Benue to comb the flash points across the state leading to arrest of several persons linked to the state most wanted criminal, Terwase Akwanza, aka Gana.

Ortom spoke to newsmen yesterday at government house, Makurdi, on his return from China reiterated the need for ranching as a panacea for putting an end to the herders/ farmers clashes in the country.

He said there was need for Nigerians to embrace ranching, this he explained would halt the incessant attacks between herders and Nigerian farmers.

He added that ‘the solution to Fulani invasion is ranching. There is nowhere in the world where we have cattle moving about except in Nigeria. Why must we live with animals? How can we continue to spend on security in the midst of recession? We must ranch our cattle. Nigeria must come together to support herdsmen ranch their cattle.’

While commenting on the recent skirmishes between herders and framers in Ikpayongo area of the state in which six persons we reportedly killed and many others injured however urged the youths to be law abiding and eschew taking laws into their hands.

He said that two wrongs cannot make a right, Ortom advised the people of the state to always report whenever there were issues to the appropriate quarters so that government could take up the matter with a view to finding solutions to them.

“Report where there are issues. Two wrongs can never make a right. People will begin to be afraid of Benue if we continue this way. No matter the provocation, we must be law abiding so that government can fight for us.”