Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, in this interview after resuming from leave, demands criminal proceedings against the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore for allegedly sponsoring the ongoing killings in the state. JOHN CHARLES reports
Some of your security aides have been transferred, and prior to this, you alleged that there were threats to your life. Do you see this as part of the plot to kill you?
I was on vacation when the policemen attached to me were transferred. I have complained through the Commissioner of Police here in Makurdi that this is not right. As governor, I have the right to select my immediate security personnel who could work with me, and I drew the attention of the authorities of the Nigerian Police to this and they reversed their action the following day. So, to me, whether it was made in error or by mischief or whatever means, the important thing is that it was corrected and today, all my aides are with me because I also saw a letter which stated that cases of transfer of police officers, as far as Benue State was concerned, should be suspended indefinitely and I have all my aides. So, I don’t want to read meanings into that for now. As you are aware, I had to come back and I resumed after my leave. If there are any other things, I will still let you know. An error was done which I drew the attention of the Nigerian Police to and it has been corrected.
What is the state government doing to prevent further attacks on Benue communities?
We have agents in the 276 wards in the 23 local government areas and we have been meeting very frequently to assess and analyse the situation with security agencies in the state. We have also empowered the vigilance groups and the livestock guards to complement what the security agencies are doing. We have also identified flash points from where the invaders attack our people and we have adequately made presentations to the Federal Government. There is already a reinforcement going on by all security agencies to ensure that we are able to surmount this challenge. Mr. President, in my last discussion with him, was deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis that we are facing today in Benue State. A committee was set up to assess the damage and to see how these IDPs can be rehabilitated to go back to their various communities. But one thing that was identified was that areas that were attacked were not yet safe despite the fact that there were adequate security personnel there. Mr. President had indicated that he wants a rehabilitation of these homes because even when they go back, how are they going to stay in those places? So, we raised the issue of security in those areas and he did assure us. As of today, some of the personnel, the top senior people are already in the state. Although I am the Chief Security Officer of the state, I don’t have any authority backing me to order the police or soldiers. That is why we will continue to ask for state police to ensure they are adequately trained and equipped to have the capacity to take care of the security of the state, but for now, it is the responsibility of the Federal Government.
Out of the 23 local governments in Benue State, you hardly count five local governments that are not under siege. So, you can see the enormous challenge. We have the vigilance group; we also have the livestock guards but they are not armed. So, it becomes very difficult for them to operate. In terms of funding, the security personnel in the state are grossly underfunded and ill equipped. Individuals, groups or corporate organisations that are ready to support can pass through government, or approach us directly. On our part, we are working very hard and that is why I had to reschedule my trip to come back earlier than I had planned because of the continued attacks. The effort of the security agencies, looking beyond the issue of grazing, is also a welcome development. I think by the grace of God, we will soon surmount this challenge.
What’s your reaction to the military invasion and massive destruction in Naka, vis-à-vis the failure of the military to react in the same manner when Fulani militia killed their men like it happened in Yogbo years back and Tyulen recently? Will Benue seek redress?
I condemn the invasion in its totality; this is unwarranted. I must also condemn the killing of the army personnel in Naka and that was why my deputy, who was then the acting governor, swiftly took action by directing the chairman of the local government and the traditional rulers of the Gwer West Local Government to ensure that the perpetrators were arrested and brought to justice. This has been done. Five people were arrested. It was not the military that arrested them or police. The chairman of the local government and the traditional council came together and arrested these people and handed them over. And so, there was no basis whatsoever for an invasion. We have reported this to the Chief of Army Staff and he had already directed an inquiry into the matter.
The National Economic Council has prohibited open grazing and it was done in just few states including Benue. What is your reaction to this?
The challenge between herdsmen and farmers in Benue State and other parts of the country preceded the current administration whether at the federal level or Benue State. The steps we took were to forestall crisis finally for farmers and herdsmen and we remain committed to this in Benue State. I must congratulate the Benue people, and of course, the media, for standing with us in defence of this law. Ranching is the right way to go for us in Benue State.
The coordinator of the livestock guards was arrested by security agents who alleged that he had links with the Boko Haram insurgents and that he masterminded the killings in Benue State. What is your reaction to this?
Let me say that as a law abiding governor and someone who believes in the rule of law, I will always support due process. Security agencies are at liberty to arrest, detain and investigate anyone, who they may suspect to be involved in security breach or perpetuating insecurity. The arrest of Tershaku is one of such and as for me, when it comes to issues of security and prosecution, I don’t interfere. However, he should not be victimised and the security men should be fair to him. He should be investigated and if at the end, he is found culpable, he should be prosecuted. When my adviser was suspected of murder and a commissioner was also a suspect in a murder case, I asked them to resign. Although they were not convicted, I said for the purpose of credibility of this government, they needed to give way and they gave way. They had to resign. You are also aware that even when one of my appointees was convicted, I asked him to resign. Later though, he appealed the decision of the lower court and was exonerated and is now a free man. If I have another opportunity, I will appoint him again. So, I don’t want to talk about the arrest other than to say let the needful be done.
Are you still insisting that the leaders of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore are responsible for the killings in Benue State?
I have said it repeatedly. I have written and will continue to write and continue to raise the alarm that the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore are responsible for the killings and for the mercenary work that is going on in Benue State. I still want to repeat that they are responsible. There are evidence; they are on tape. They have held press conferences and none of them have come out to refute what was credited to them in the media. They have said it is about Jihad; it is not about grazing. They said it is about occupation and taking over of our land. They have said it and the evidence is there. I have presented this to security agencies and I want to believe that it is a whole process. They are still working on it and at the appropriate time, these people will be apprehended because they cannot go free. After killing my people, they will not be allowed to go free. I will continue to say it that these people must be arrested because they are responsible for the killings in the state.
Were you able to enjoy your vacation in view of the constant attacks on the state by herdsmen?
It wasn’t a pleasant leave because travelling to far away China, where I have seven hours ahead of Nigerian time, I had jetlag. So, it was difficult for me to sleep and I dozed when I was not expected to. There was a lot of distraction in my sleep due to the continued attacks and invasion of our land. With the advent of the internet and the social media, whatever was happening here I was also following. Those horrific pictures and those scenes and the news about the killings; it was no longer leave and I wished I had not gone on leave because there was no more leave. Even when I slept, instead of having sweet dreams, I was having bad dreams. I used to see the pictures of what will happen and what had happened. It was not a pleasant experience but I pray that this matter will be put behind us so that we can go about our normal businesses.
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