April 12, (THEWILL) – Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has again lamented over the gruesome murder of over 25 persons in fresh attacks on two communities, by the invading Fulani herdsmen on Monday night.
THEWILL had reported at least 25 persons dead on Monday night, after suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded Mbadwem in Guma local government area and Tiortyu in Tarka local government area of Benue state.
Scores, who are receiving treatment in unnamed hospital in the state, were reported injured during the attack.
Consequently, the governor in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, has directed the people of the state to rise and defend themselves forthwith.
Governor Ortom, who could not hide his anger, said that “it is becoming increasingly glaring everyday that my people are now an endangered species and so we can no longer wait for help from anywhere.
“My people will have to rise up to the occasion to defend themselves and their heritage against the Fulani army of occupation.
“We are law abiding citizens. We have cried for help against these invaders, but nothing is forthcoming. We are left alone and it looks like it is a deliberate strategy. Now we have only one option; to defend ourselves or get extinct. This is a case for our survival.
“We have been accommodating of other people in our land, but our hospitality is misconstrued as weakness. We are not a conquered people. We will never be. We are free born citizens of Nigeria”, the Governor declared.
Governor Ortom nevertheless enjoined security operatives to do more in crime prevention and protection of lives and property in the land, just as he urged the people to cooperate with security agencies to flush out the undesirable elements in the society.
The state government, he said, will not shy away from its commitment to provide welfare and the security for the citizens .
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