Fayose Visits Ortom In Benue Over Fulani Herdsmen Attacks

Agency ReporterFebruary 8, 2018

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Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose and his deputy, Kolapo Olusola arrives Benue State on Thursday for a condolence visit Consoling governor Samuel Ortom over the New Year Massacre of over 73 innocent farmers and still counting.

Governor Ayodele Fayose has said that God will visit the blood of the innocent people of Benue State and other States killed by suspected herdsmen on the killers and their sponsors, even as he reiterated his call for the restructuring of the country.

The governor, who was speaking in Makurdi, the Benue State capital during his visit on Thursday, to commiserate with the State Governor, Samuel Ortom and the people of the State over killings by suspected herdsmen, declared support for the Benue State Anti-Grazing Law and urged the people of the State to stand by the law, adding that; “since the law is for the Benue people by the Benue government and not for residents of other States, there should not be any problem about its enforcement.”

His Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka said in a statement that Governor Fayose, who was accompanied by the Deputy Governor, Prof Kolapo Olusola, Chief of Staff; Chief Dipo Anisulowo, Chairman of the State House of Assembly Committee on Information; Dr Samuel Omotoso and others arrived at the Makurdi Airport at exactly 12:23pm and was received by Governor Ortom and other top functionaries of the State Government.

He visited the Genabe, Makurdi mass grave where the 73 persons killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Guma and Logo local government areas of Benue State, were buried. Prayers were offered for the repose of the souls of the victims by the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof Kolapo Olusola.

Governor Fayose also visited the former Governor of the State, Gabriel Suswan in his residence.

The governor urged the people of Benue State to be united in prayers, noting that “whosoever that is in government during the time of peace, posterity will remember him while those in powers when innocent people are being killed in the most barbaric manner will not be forgotten too.

He advised the people of Benue to “change vehicle since the present vehicle of change has broken down.”

Responding, Governor Ortom thanked Governor Fayose for visiting the State during its trying period.

He described restructuring of the country as the panacea to this present maladministration and open bias of the security agencies.

Governor Ortom said all cattle farmer in the State must embrace cattle ranching, declaring that “No retreat, no surrender on the total implementation of the State anti-grazing law.”

The governor chided the Police and the Minister of Defense for allowing called strangers to display arms openly and killed people.
He insisted the relocation of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris was a ruse, saying “the IGP came just once and ran back to Abuja insulting me and dancing on the graves of the innocent people of Benue State.”

He reiterated he called for the IGP’s resignation, describing him as a bad influence on the President had turned himself to the mouthpiece and defender of the herdsmen.

He said the security agencies have allowed herdsmen to take over the business of kidnapping and killings and were being protected by the IGP.