GOV. SAMUEL ORTOM
CIN SPECIAL FOCUS ON BENUE STATE
IMPACT OF HERDSMEN ATTACKS ON BENUE AS ANALYZED BY GOVERNOR OF BENUE STATE, SAMUEL ORTOM
By Twitwi Ayenowowon
The upshot of herdsmen attacks on indigenes of Benue State in recent times cannot be pretermitted, Leaving more than 1,300 deaths in its wake from July 2015 to March 2018, displacing thousands, shutting down farming and hindering education.
In a special focus, citizen Information Network CIN, caught up with the Executive Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom who uncovered issues, happenings and present state of things in Benue, since the intrusion of herdsmen in some of the remote communities in the State.
He said, “Since the influx of herdsmen in Benue State, We have a total of Eight (8) camps with more than 180,000 (one hundred and eighty thousand) people displaced living in IDP (Internally displaced persons) camps, amongst which 60% are children who are supposed to be in school. For the past six (6) months, our children have not been to school.”
State of people in the Camps
Farming has been a symbol associated with the People of Benue State as their slogan reads “Food basket of the Nation”.
Governor Ortom spoke on the commitment of the average Benue man in farming and food production.
“Farming has been a lifestyle for us in Benue State and I am not exempted from this practice.
“I have been into farming for the past 27 years. And instead of playing sports, I prefer working in my farm because I can add more input and increase food production. This is where I spend my leisure time.
“Benue State is food basket of the nation, and agriculture has been our pride and that is why I want to lead by example”
CIN correspondent Doktorsquared with some children in the camp
With over 500,000 persons displaced, and businesses on a lock down, Gov. Ortom stressed on the effects of herdsmen attacks and how it has brought about a drastic reduction in food production in the State, which in turn can affect the nation.
He said, “food production has been hampered in the state and in turn affecting the Nation because, most of the villages that has been attacked, base mainly on agriculture as a means of livelihood. That is why crops produced by farmers in Benue can be seen all over the country in the South South, South West, and in the North.
“We have always devised new means to improve our production prior to the attacks.
“The influx of herdsmen in Benue have reduce food production in the state and in turn affecting the Nation because if the food basket is empty, then the whole nation will go hungry.
“Herdsmen do target farmers in their farmlands and murder them.
They do come from our neighboring states (names withheld), and attack our farmers.”
Inside the camp
Governor Ortom revealed territorial dominance as one of the main reasons why herdsmen attack the people of Benue.
He said, “The argument is that they want to take over our lands. Some come from Mali, Niger, Guinea and others and want to Occupy our lands which is unconstitutional. Where do they want us to go?. We can go to the extreme to survive, but we have decided to remain law abiding”.
Serious tensions have been raised during the course of the incessant killings in the state and the governor noted that the aim is to destabilize the Buhari Led Administration. He went on to urge security agencies in the country to come together and work symbiotically to restore peace in the Nation.
“Their agenda is to destabilize the Nigerian government and that is why we are calling on all security agencies in the country to come together and fight these people away from our country because, even security personnel’s have also felt the wrath of these attacks.
“We have reported killings and slaughtering of Soldiers, Police officers, Security defense officials, SSS and others.
“This type of scenario is not good at all, hence, we must put hands together and unite as one to extinguish these terrorists.
He spoke of the damages and sleepless nights he has been experiencing since the tumultuous attacks.
“I hardly sleep at night because I see myself inside IDP camps in my sleep. It could have been me in those camps you know. Like in my own village there are places that I cannot visit anymore, my farms have been destroyed, parts of my community have been taken over by herdsmen”.
Gov. Ortom refuted claims of neglect by the Federal Government towards Benue State since the insurgency, stressing that the state has been getting support from the Federal Government on numerous occasions.
He said “The federal government do support us, NEMA has been here before on occasions to give us food supplies, President Buhari has been here too, Vice president Yomi Osinbajo has also visited us.
“The federal government also provided us with security, and has promised to build new houses so that people can return back to their normal lives, they also promised to give us farm inputs like fertilizers, tractors and more so that the farmers can resume their work with ease.
“We are a bit more stable now than we were before. All these are efforts made by the Federal Government to aide us through this turbulent period.
“Aside the Federal Government, other state government, agencies, companies and good spirited individuals have really helped us by providing various amenities from food to clothes, to vaccines and more”.
With the State security improving and the promises of amenities by the Federal Government and other organizations, the governor predicted that immediately he gets the all clear from security agencies, people will start returning to their homes and get their lives back on track.
“We are still testing the ground to ascertain when indigenes can return to their homes because, some that made earlier efforts to go back have met their end in the hands of herdsmen.
“We can only advice them to return back to their homes after we are sure that the security men have successfully chased the herdsmen away.
“Although there are some places that people have successfully returned to, but the remote areas are still under attack, so it is not advisable to allow the people go back for now.
“But as soon as possible when we get the All clear from the security agencies, then we can lead the people back to the homes”.
Gov. Ortom, on a final note commended security men for their tireless efforts in curtailing the insurgency in Benue State, saluting those that have lost their lives to the cause.
” I am the Chief Security officer in the state in quote, but the security is a federal government thing and we can only make laws while the federal government enforce the laws.
“We are working with the security men posted to us and they have been tremendous. To the ones that have fallen for the cause of our peace, I say may their soul rest in peace, and may God bountifully reward their families. The ones that are still with us are doing so well and for this we are grateful”.