MARKUDI/Nigeria: The Integrity Youth Alliance has called on the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom to caution his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, if really want Peace and stability in Benue State, just as the governor has in a Phone-in-Radio Programme, called on the people of Benue to defend themselves.
In a press release on Tuesday in Markudi, the National Coordinator of the Integrity Youth Alliance, Kelvin Adegbenga said it was unprofessional of a Chief Press Secretary, to say the Inspector General of Police is a lair. It will be recalled that the Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase was on Channels TV morning programme; Sunrise Daily to call the Inspector General of Police unprintable names.
“The same Chief Press Secretary who issued a press statement based on a hear say, that the IGP, Ibrahim K. Idris is “blaming the recent killings of innocent Benue people by herdsmen on the open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the State” even when the Senate Committee sitting on the Benue Killings was held behind close door while the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim K. Idris and the Senate Committee Chairman and members did not speak to the press, we now wonder where Terver Akase got his false information from to have warranted such a defaming press statement, Adegbenga said.
He further reiterated that the State Governor, Samuel Ortom in his best interest do away with Politics and join hand with the Nigeria Police Force to put an end to the crisis rocking the State. The Governor and his Chief Press Secretary cannot be working at crossroad while the Police is doing her possible best to ensure peace and sanity in Benue State.
“It is on record that as at yesterday, Monday 5th February, 2018, the Inspector General of Police deployed 15 Police Units and Special Forces to Benue State aside the January 6th, 2018 deployment of Police Aerial Surveillance Helicopters, Five Units of Police Mobile Force; Police Special Forces have been deployed along with additional Conventional Police Personnel, the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Police Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD) and Special Police Joint Intelligence and Investigation Teams to Benue State to work with the Police Personnel on the ground. Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID) Personnel are not left out. All these is to bring new impetus to the efforts of the Force to nip in the bud further attacks in the Benue States.
“It is on record that the Inspector General of Police, IGP brahim Kpotun-Idris, was on inspection tour of Gbajimba, Anyiin and Tunga villages in Benue and Nasarawa States where he said that the police were determined to ensure the protection of lives and property of the residents and appealed to them to give information to the security agencies on miscreants in their midst.
“He also assured of Armed Police deployments to the crises communities to avert further attacks and restore normalcy in the affected areas. The IGP was received at Gbajimba, in Guma Local Government Council by the Chairman of the Council, Mr Anthony Shawon who commended the IGP for the inspection tour, so we wonder how the IGP could have embarked on the tour of the communities and held interactive meeting with the people in the communities within one day as insinuated by Governor Ortom’s Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, Adegbenga asked.
Adegbenga further reiterated that “It is unbecoming of a Governor and his Chief Press Secretary to condemn every security arrangement put in place by the Nigeria Police. It is time Governor Samuel Ortom comes out to explain to Nigerians who authorized him to arm the Guard Militias with AK47 when it is only the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces that is authorized to issue licenses for arms and ammunition in the country.
“The same Governor Samuel Ortom kept quiet when the Agatu communities were attacked. He openly blamed the people for their predicament because they voted for the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Senator, in the person of Senator David Mark.
“It is on record that Eight suspected herdsmen have been arrested at the scene of the killings are currently being prosecuted, six of them were remanded to Prison custody while the other two suspects arrested at a different scene of crime are being arraigned in court.
“Also, the Nigeria Police have arrested 16 suspects for their alleged in connection with the killing of seven travellers in Gboko area of Benue State. With all this above physical achievements within the shortest possible time, it is prejudiced and perverse for Benue State Governor and his Chief Press Secretary to say the Inspector General of Police is lying, the statement concluded.
Defend yourselves
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, have asked people of the state to use all legal means to defend themselves against further attacks from herdsmen, saying the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, who ought to protect lives and property was busy playing politics with the issue.
The governor gave the charge on a phone-in radio programme in Makurdi.
Ortom, who alleged that his life was being threatened, said he had yet to assess the extent of damage done to his farm house by herdsmen on Monday.
Speaking on the live radio programme, Governor Ortom said the call for the people to defend themselves became necessary because the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris who, should enforce security and safety of the people was playing politics with the unending killings in the state, and becoming the mouthpiece of the murderers of Benue people.
On the IGP He said: “The Police said they arrested Livestock Guard members and termed them a militia group from Benue. It’s just a diversion from the main issue.
“If you want to hang a dog, you give it a bad name. That is what the Inspector General of Police is doing, he is the mouthpiece of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
That is what the man represents. He should, therefore, resign his current position to serve full time in his new job.
“So bad, they plant weapons on people and take their pictures and claim they are Benue Livestock Guards.
Those people are not members of our Livestock Guard. It is just a planned thing.
“The fact is that I am facing a lot of intimidation and blackmail but I am firm and strong because I have trust in God.
“There are threats, even on my life, it is on record that I reported to the Police and those people responsible have not been arrested.
“People say they are going to kill the governor. Is that not grievous enough to arrest the people concerned?
“Miyetti came out and owned up and threatened that bloodshed will continue in Benue. Is it not enough evidence for the Inspector-General of Police to arrest one person out of the group?
“Fulani militia have come out in video to display the kind of weapons that they have and everyone has seen it; that is also not enough for the IGP to arrest these people.
“But he chose to declare that we have militia in Benue State. If we have militia in the state, will the herdsmen come and kill our people the way they did and are currently doing?
“It is because we are law- abiding. But you need to listen and hear the opinion of the people of the state on the matter.
“I think the people should have the right to defend themselves and not make themselves easy prey to be killed in their homes. Defend yourselves lawfully “So any lawful means you can adopt to defend yourself in Benue State, just go ahead. We are not going to wait for the Inspector-General of Police to do it because he has failed in his assignment. “I commiserate with the families of the Police personnel who came here and were killed by the herdsmen.
It is unfortunate, the Police are dying and the Inspector-General of Police is playing politics with the issue. It is unfortunate.
“The man should resign because he has failed woefully. He doesn’t have the capacity. There are many good Police officers who can take over that job and perform creditably by turning around the security architecture of this country and make things work and protect lives and property. That man has no business being the IGP.”
Reacting to the comment by the Force Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent Jimoh Moshood, describing him (the governor) as a drowning man who should resign his position, Governor Ortom said: “Between me who is doing the will of the people and the IGP who is failing in his responsibilities, who should resign?
“It is the IGP that has failed to do the right thing that should be called a drowning man, it is the IGP that should resign.
“It is embarrassing, they are insulting me and insulting Nigerians; it is the IGP who is the chief enforcer of the law that has refused to enforce the law and has turned around to accuse me.
“I am not a drowning man; I am doing what I was elected to do. Over 99 per cent of Benue people are with me, I’m acting their script, so nobody should try to intimidate me.” On the attack on his farm house by suspected herdsmen last Monday, Governor Ortom said: “Well, it is just one thing among so many things that have happened to the people of Guma and Logo local governments.
Unwarranted attacks had been going on. Everyday, killings and attacks are going on. “You know that my farm is close to Gbajimba, the headquarters of Guma Local Government.
And if the herdsmen can come as far as that place to invade and attack, it is obviously a source of worry. Though I’m yet to value and assess the damage because my farm manager and workers ran for their lives, we will do that at the right time.”
