Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has distanced his government from recent air raid in Nasarawa Community that killed dozens of pastoralists.
The Governor who the described the allegations linking his government to the raid as mischievous maintained that neither him nor his government had a hand in the unfortunate incident.
While speaking on Sunday, January 29th in Ogbolokuta, Ulayi in Ado Local Government Area, Ortom insisted that he has no such powers to order such an air raid operation.
He explained that contrary to the wrong narrative being peddled, it may have been as a result of intelligence gathered by the military high command.
The Governor who wondered why he would be linked to the incident, said it was pure mischief for anyone to attempt to rope him into what he had no knowledge of.
The Governor spoke during a Thanksgiving Mass for the official commissioning of a Parish House built by him at Holy Cross Parish, Ogbolokuta, Ulayi in Ado Local Government Area.
Speaking on the hostilities between the people of Ezza community of Ado local government and their neighbouring Ebonyi State, the Governor said he was working in collaboration with the Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi to end the incessant conflict between the two brothers
He disclosed that the peace meeting between the two state governments will be held in the area as a show of commitment to bring the crises to a stop so that the people will return to their homes.
Governor Ortom who is the first governor of the State to have visited Ezza community since the creation of the state in 1976 told people that boundaries were meant for administrative convenience and not to divide people.
According to him, the Ezza people, though Igbo speaking, were bonafide indigenes of Benue State and must be protected by the Government.
He also assured them that there was an ongoing process for the amendment of the chieftaincy law of the state, saying, “Ezza community must also be given the opportunity to lead their people” through the appointment of traditional rulers.
He directed the Chairman of Ado local government council, Hon James Oche to ensure presentation on the matter during public hearing for review of the chieftaincy law.
Governor Ortom urged the people who deserted their homes as a result of the hostilities to return to their places and be vigilant in reporting any security breach, assuring that able bodied young men from Ezza community will be drafted into the next batch of the State Community Volunteer Guards to help curb insecurity.
He particularly commended the Parish Priest of Holy Cross Catholic Church Ogbolokuta, Rev. Fr Solomon Ujah and the Diocese of Otukpo for their resilience in helping to keep the Ezza community despite the several security challenges in the area.
