Gov Samuel Ortom
The governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom says 483,692 persons are currently in Internally Displaced Persons camps in the State due to activities of Fulani herdsmen.
Ortom disclosed this in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday.
According to him, the ugly situation has caused devastation across the country.
“In Benue State, 19 out of 23 Local Government Areas have been affected by attacks by Fulani herdsmen leading to loss of lives, destruction of properties and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Benue people who are now living in Internally Displaced Persons Camps and host communities across the State.”
The governor added that returning the IDPs to their ancestral homes has been impossible as herdsmen continue to attack, kill, maim and rape those who return.
He noted that the Federal Government is also yet to redeem the pledge made on 15th May, 2018 by Vice President Prof. Yemi Osibanjo to contribute N10Billion to Benue State towards the reconstruction, rehabilitation, reintegration and resettlement of displaced persons.
“The failure of the IDPs to return to their ancestral homes to resume normal farming activities, together with the impact of climate change, has posed a serious threat to national food security, as evidenced by rising food prices”.
“We all remember the wise counsel of Nigeria’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, the late Alhaji Maitama Sule, when Northern Leaders Forum visited you as the President-Elect in 2015.”
He said, inter alia “…With justice, you can rule Nigeria well. Justice is the key. If you do justice to all and sundry, and I say all and sundry. If you’re going to judge between people, do justice irrespective of their tribe, religion or even political inclination. Justice must be done to whosoever deserves it.”
