Tension Hits Benue As Governor Loses 3 Relatives in Fresh Attack

Tension Hits Benue As Governor Loses 3 Relatives in Fresh Attack

  • The governor of Benue state has been thrown into mourning after some suspected herdsmen killed three of his relatives in an attack
  • The victims of the attack are have been confirmed to be the governor's kinsmen in the Guma local government area of Benue state
  • According to sources, the victims were riding on a motorcycle in the area when the incident occurred

Some gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have allegedly killed three kinsmen of the governor of Benue, Samuel Ortom.

The suspected herdsmen were said to have laid ambush and blocked the Iordye- Gbajimba road in the Guma local government area of Benue state at about 5 pm on Saturday, February 19.

It was gathered that the victims - two male and one female - were riding on a motorcycle in the area when they were ambushed and shot dead by the suspected herdsmen.

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Samuel Ortom
Governor Samuel Ortom has lost three of his kinsmen in a fresh attack in Benue state Photo: Samuel Ortom
Source: Twitter

Sources privy to the incident told Legit.ng that the suspects have already taken over parts of the Guma LGA which borders the neighbouring Nasarawa state.

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They are also said to have been committing heinous crimes like the destruction of property in the area and rendering many children orphans and women widows.

Confirming that the bodies of the victims have been recovered by security agencies operating in the area, the source said that the three deceased victims died on the spot while others sustained various degrees of injury.

In addition, soldiers of Operation Whirl Stroke have recovered the bodies and deposited them at the morgue in Gbajimba General Hospital state.

Also confirming the incident, Nathaniel Ikyur, the chief press secretary to Governor Ortom in a short statement said the people of Benue state have continued to suffer in the hands of suspected herdsmen.

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Ikyur said:

"This has been the plight of Benue indigenes in the hands of Fulani herdsmen who have invaded the state in a bid to take over our ancestral lands."

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An aide to the governor of Benue state has said that his principal does not have an atom of hatred for President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ikyur said that Governor Ortom urges everyone to ensure they pray for President Buhari as the leader of the country.

According to Ikyur, the governor has been vocal against the leadership style of the president because he can not stand the atrocities committed by herdsmen in Benue state.

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Governor Ortom had made some very bold statements regarding the spate of insecurity in Benue and Nigeria at large.

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The Benue state governor said he cannot be intimidated by anyone even though several attempts have been made to eliminate him.

In preparation for the worse, Governor Ortom said he has prepared his will and expressed confidence that his family would be fine.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Nnenna Ibeh avatar

Nnenna Ibeh Nnenna Ibeh is a journalist with over 10 years of experience with various media organisations including Premium Times. Being on the front burner of reporting politics and the different dimensions of governance, she is also passionate about girls' education and women's and children's health. With degrees in Journalism, Peace Studies & Conflict Res., and Dev. Studies, Nnenna has worked in the dev. sector as a communications officer for the Centre for Democracy and Dev. email: ibehnnenna@gmail.com