Defend yourselves if attacked, Benue gov tells residents

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has called on the people of the state to defend themselves if attacked.

The governor, who spoke on a radio programme titled, ‘Issue of the moment’ monitored by our correspondent on Tuesday, said it was necessary for the people to defend themselves in order not to become easy preys.

Ortom noted that in spite of the presence of policemen in the state, killings were still going on in two local government areas.

He flayed the statement credited to the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, which blamed the anti-open grazing law for the New Year attacks, saying it encouraged the herdsmen to carry out more attacks on the state.

He said, “I think the people should have the right to defend themselves and not to make themselves easy preys to be killed in their homes.

“So any lawful means you can adopt to defend yourself, just go ahead in Benue State. We are not going to wait for the Inspector-General of Police to do it.”

The governor however commiserated with the families of the policemen killed in the attacks.

“It is unfortunate, the people are dying and the Inspector-General of Police is playing politics with the issue. 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, making things work and protecting lives and property. That man has no business being the IGP,” Ortom lamented.

Meanwhile, the governor has lifted the curfew imposed on Gboko town.

Ortom  had last Wednesday imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the town following the killing of seven travellers.

Ortom announced the lifting of the curfew at a meeting he held with the leaders of the Benue Motorcycle Association and heads of security agencies at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi.

He condemned the killing of the travellers and maintained that the victims were not Fulani people as reported.