Benue: Declare State Of Emergency, Address The Nation – Ortom Tells Buhari

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to address the nation over its worsening insecurity.
TrackNews Online had earlier reported about an attack on Abagena community housing Internally Displaced Persons camp in Makurdi Local government Area of Benue by armed Fulani herdsmen that left seven people killed, while many others were injured.

Angry youths who were not pleased with the development took to the Makurdi-Lafia road to protest on Tuesday morning, blocking the roads with the dead bodies.

Reacting in a statement on Tuesday through his spokesperson, Jimin Geoffrey, Ortom asked President Buhari to declare a state of emergency over Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation.

“My colleagues, the governors, must rise and impress on the president to call a security summit, if possible, to declare a state of emergency on security so that all hands will be on deck to address the situation in the country,” he said.

Ortom, who added that more than 70 people have been killed across three LGAs in the state, asked Buhari to “rise up” to the security challenge.

The governor described the latest attack as barbaric and unacceptable when he visited the camp.

“You have all seen what is happening within the last two weeks. We have lost over 70 people in Guma, Makurdi and Gwer West LGAs alone, in addition to what you have seen here,” he said.

“Many are in the hospital apart from the seven that were killed. But I want to say that our patience is being overstretched in spite of our preaching of rule of law and due process. You can see that the people are fed up.

“Mr President must rise up; he is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He has taken oath of office to secure and protect lives and property. This is not acceptable, this cannot continue. Mr President must rise up and address the nation.”