Ortom narrates near death experience in suspected herdsmen attack

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, who Saturday narrowly escaped an assassination attempt as suspected herdsmen ambushed him on his farm in Tyomu community near the state capital, Makurdi, has spoken on the encounter.

His attackers reportedly opened fire on the governor but he narrowly escaped.

Briefing journalists on his experience at the Benue Peoples House after the attack, Ortom said he had to run over 1.5 kilometres to escape the ambush.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the attack on the governor and demanded the arrest as well as the prosecution of the perpetrators, claiming the attack was deliberate and intended to assassinate him.

Shedding more light on the attack, the Benue governor told journalists that he was inspecting his farm when the militia herders, who dressed in black, ambushed him and his security men and opened fire.

He said it took the swift response of his security aides to repel the attack, while he ran for a long distance to escape.

The governor lamented that the attack came a few days after the leadership of Miyetti Allah, Kautal Hore held a meeting in Yola and singled him out as a thorn in their flesh, who must be eliminated.

Ortom said his life is in the hands of God and no Fulani militia had the power to take it without God’s permission.

He said the state’s ranching law would not be repealed for any reason, stressing that no intimidation could force his administration to reverse the decision of Benue people against open grazing.

The governor, however, said he would send a petition to the President and security chiefs against Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, because allowing their leadership to walk freely with security personnel attached to them was not in the best interest of the country.

The PDP, while condemning the attack, called on President Buhari to put machinery in motion by ordering an immediate manhunt, arrest and prosecution of the assailants as well as beef up security around the governor.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP expressed shock that the assailants trailed Governor Ortom and opened fire on him and his aides along Makurdi/Gboko road, in an attack that by every indication was intended to assassinate the governor.

“Our party is worried that this brazen attempt at Governor Ortom’s life is coming on the heels of his outspokenness in exposing those allegedly behind the incessant attacks on communities in the state and demanding that the federal government lives up to its responsibility on the protection of life and property in the state,” the PDP asked.

The party also urged Nigerians to hold the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration responsible over its failure to take a decisive step to check the escalated insecurity and brazen attacks on innocent Nigerians.

The PDP also called on Ortom not to be deterred by the attack but remain courageous and at alert, at all times while providing leadership to the people of his state.