Governor Ortom refutes reports linking his government to armed militia
Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, has refuted media reports linking his government to a militia group operating at Arufu, a town between Benue and Taraba states. The governor made clarifications in a statement sent to NAIJ.com
- Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, has reacted to media reports linking his government to a militia group
- The governor refuted insinuations that the group is sponsored by his government
- Governor Ortom is widely recognized for his disarmament policy
Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, has reacted to media reports linking his government to a militia group operating at Arufu, a town between Benue and Taraba states.
The governor refuted the reports in a statement sent to NAIJ.com by his spokesman, Terver Akase, on Tuesday, January 9.
Soldiers of the 93 Battalion in Takum area of Taraba state had announced that they arrested nine members of a militia known as Civilian Joint Task Force armed with AK-47 riffles.
Governor Ortom's untiring quest for peace in the state has not been in doubt. Photo credit: Terver Akase
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“We wish to state categorically that the Benue state government under Governor Samuel Ortom has not recruited any militia group and armed them since the governor assumed office.
“It is also on record that the present administration inherited the State Civilian Joint Task Force from the previous government but later proscribed it,” the statement noted.
The governor stated that his government believes in the use of conventional security agencies to protect the people, adding he did not let the people resort to self help even Even in the face of renewed killing of innocent people by herdsmen in Logo and Guma lLcal Government Areas of the state.
Earlier today, Governor Ortom was in the Presidential Villa to get the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari for the deployment of more troops to troubled parts of the state.
He assured the people of Benue state and other Nigerians that his government is committed to bringing the killings in the state to an end and restoring peace to the affected areas.
NAIJ.com checks revels that the only approved group in the state is the Livestock Guards set up by the Benue state government.
The group was set up following the enactment of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law in the state last year.
Their job is to ensure compliance with the regulation of ranches establishment and prohibition of open grazing of animals in the state and they don't carry arms.
Governor Ortom is widely recognized for his disarmament policy which brought the amnesty programme leading to the recovery of about 700 arms and ammunition with over 800 youths laying down their weapons to embrace the programme across the state.
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Source: Naija.ng