Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Tuesday cheated death  when a commercial car rammed into his convoy.  Miraculously, the Governor escaped unhurt. He was said to be returning from Zaki Biam, where he had gone to carry out an assessment of damage unleashed by yet to be identified gunmen on International Yam Market, when the accident occurred. Benue had been engulfed in a renewed wave of violence allegedly visited on the natives by herdsmen.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Terver Akase, said  the accident occurred about 4:30 p.m. between Abakwa and Adi in Buruku council. Akase said an oncoming vehicle, a Toyota Carina II, left its lane and hit the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, bus, which was on Governor Ortom’s convoy. He said no life was lost, but one occupant of the Carina car sustained head injuries.

The Governor showed empathy and directed that the injured be taken to hospital immediately. The state’s NUJ Chairman, Kris Atsaka, also sustained minor injuries.