Alleged Assassination Attempt: Governor Ortom Sends Another Important Message to Nigerians

- Governor Ortom has urged Nigerians to come together and unite against those behind the security challenges in the country

- The Benue state governor said this is the right step to take rather than politicising the recent attack on him

- Ortom noted he was not the first governor to be attacked, adding that even a governor that belongs to the ruling party has suffered the same fate

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Samuel Ortom, the governor of Benue state, has made a passionate appeal to Nigerians not to politicise the recent attack on him, saying the incident should not be reduced to partisan politics.

Recall that the governor had said he was attacked on his farm on Saturday, March 20, by suspected herdsmen.

The incident has generated outrage as many Nigerians have spoken out in solidarity with the Benue governor.

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However, addressing newsmen on Monday, March 22, Governor Ortom, a PDP member, said he was not the first governor to be attacked in recent times, The Punch reported.

He noted that even Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state who is an APC governor has suffered a similar fate.

Ortom added that there even patriotic Fulani men who have called him to sympathise with him.

The Benue governor said the important step to take is for Nigerians to unite against the criminal elements.

Meanwhile, Governor Ortom has also said he welcomed the decision of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, to investigate the matter, adding that he was waiting to be invited by the investigating team, The Nation reported.

He noted that this was not the first time the Fulani Nationality Movement would threaten him and carry out the threat.

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The shadowy group was the one that has claimed responsibility for the attack on the governor.

Ortom alleged that the militia group had also in 2018 claimed responsibility for the killing of 78 people in the state.

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Meanwhile, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria has distanced itself from the reported assassination attempt on Governor Ortom.

MACBAN's secretary-general, Usman Baba-Ngelzerma, said on Monday, March 22, that the group was not a criminal association.

Baba-Ngelzerma, however, condemned the attack on behalf of MACBAN. He added that if there was truly an attack of the governor, the security agencies should be alerted to conduct a proper investigation.

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Nurudeen Lawal is a Legit.ng journalist passionate about fact-checking/verification journalism. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature-in-English from Obafemi Awolowo University. As Politics Editor, Nurudeen mostly writes on Nigeria’s political and socio-economic developments. He has attended different workshops, conferences and training on fact-checking and digital reporting, among others. Learn more about him on Twitter, @Nurudeen Lawal_

Source: Legit.ng