By Godwin Akor, Makurdi
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state has vehemently denied the allegation that he castigated the army or any other security agency for not doing enough in terms of the provision of security in the state.
Addressing journalists after the state security meeting held at the government house, Makurdi, today, Governor Ortom said he has always commended efforts of security agencies, particularly Operation Whirl Stroke whose commander, General Yekini, has been able to restore normalcy in many of the areas troubled by herdsmen in the past.
Ortom said other security agencies like the police, civil defense, theair force and others have been playing their roles very well and insisted that any one who says he is not happy with the performance of security agencies in Benue state mu a sadist.
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He said the state’s security council reviewed the security architecture in the state and decided to set up a committee to strengthen the laws made on cultism, ranches and kidnapping so that those who promote crime and feel that they are above the law would face severe consequences.
Ortom said the security council was aware that high profile members of the society were involved in cultism and assured that the council would do everything possible to handle the ugly situation.
The governor said the council reviewed recent attacks on communities by suspected herdsmen and pointed out the situation in Moon in Kwande, Guma and other places was pathetic because Chachangi in Taraba had been ceded to Benue while Moon in Benue had been ceded to Taraba,
He explained that killings in some parts of Benue was becoming serious and observed that stiffer penalties may be recommended for offenders of the ranches establishment law.
On the Agila/Ngbo boundary dispute, the governor appealed to high communities to give peace a chançe so that the necessary thing would be done to restore normalcy in the area.
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It would be recalled that the national boundary commission was preparing to carryout the demarcation between Ngbo and Agila,people in Ebonyi and Benue states respectively and added that himself and his Ebonyi state counterpart had agreed that peace should reign at the border areas so that demarcation would take place.
Recently, some communities in Agila were made to desert their homes when militia groups from Ngbo destroyed Government Secondary School, Agila and the Catholic Church in the area had only the reverend father hiding in another place while others ran for their dear lives.
