BENUE State Governor, Samuel Ortom has said that no sacrifice is too big in the struggle to end the senseless killings of Benue people.
Ortom who recalled several threats been made on his life as a result of the promulgation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law in the state said that no amount of such threat would stop him from protecting lives of his people.
The governor declared this on Friday while receiving in audience leaders of Makurdi branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA at Govt House Makurdi.
The Governor said that the law was enacted with good fate and prayed that God would not allow anyone to stop the ongoing implementation of the ranching law of the state.
“Since the introduction of anti open grazing law, there have been series of threats to my life but am committed to protect people who gave me their mandate, so am not moved by those threats.
” Benue people must remain steadfast till impunity is defeated in Nigeria. No amount of sacrifice is too big in the struggle to end the genocide being perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen in parts of Benue State”.
“It is time Benue sons and daughters put away political differences and unite to speak with one voice against invasion and occupation of their land which has left many people dead and property worth billions destroyed ”, Ortom stated.
Despite the threats, the governor said that the anti open grazing law has come to stay promised that nothing would stop implementing of the law.
The Governor expressed the hope that President Buhari would take further steps to stop the killing of innocent people and arrest those behind the genocide especially leaders of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore who had threatened to resist the law.
The governor appreciated the NBA for the consolatory visit maintaining that the law was a global best practice and that he and President Muhammadu Buhari also practise ranching.
Chairman NBA Makurdi branch, Mr. Emmanuel Agbakor who said that the group came on condolence visit noted that the massacres meted out on Benue people violate the right to life of Benue citizens as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.
He chided the “total lack of concern exhibited by the President regarding the killings in Benue State,” stressing that the massacre was worse than the flood incidence which caught the apt attention of the federal government.
Agbakor commended the governor for his efforts towards ensuring peace in the state and for ensuring the implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition Law and called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of actors of the heinous crime.
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