The governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has urged the people of the state to defend themselves against killer herdsmen.
The governor said the call became necessary as the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, was allegedly playing politics with the killings in the state.
Speaking Tuesday during a live phone-in programme on Benue Radio, monitored in Makurdi, the governor accused the Inspector General of Police of becoming the mouthpiece of the murderers of the Benue people.
“The police said they arrested livestock guard members and termed them a militia group from Benue. It’s just a diversion from the main issue.
“If you want to hang a dog you give it a bad name. That is what the Inspector General of Police is doing, he is the mouthpiece of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore. That is what the man represents. He should therefore resign his current position to serve full time in his new job.
“So bad, they plant weapons on people and take their pictures and claim they are Benue Livestock Guards. Those people are not members of our Livestock Guard. It is just a planned thing.
“The fact is that I am facing a lot of intimidation and blackmail but I am firm and strong because I have trust in God.
“There are threats even on my life, they are on record that I reported to the police and those people responsible have not been arrested.
“People say they are going to kill the governor, is that not grievous enough to arrest the people concerned?
“Miyetti came out and owned up and threatened that bloodshed will continue inBenue. Is it not enough evidence for the Inspector General of Police to arrest one person out of the group?”
