“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.”
These were the words of the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, as he asked his people to get themselves armed and go out to defend themselves.
The governor, who was reacting to the killing of over 25 persons in fresh attacks on two communities in the state, allegedly by Fulani herdsmen yesterday, Monday night, in a statement by his spokesman, Nathaniel Ikyur, directed the people of the state to rise and defend themselves forthwith.
Governor Ortom, who could not hide his anger, said: “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 .
Suspected Fulani herdsmen were said to have invaded Mbadwem in Guma local government area and Tiortyu in Tarka local government area of Benue state, killing the residents.
