The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has urged Nigerians not to politicize the assassination attempt on him, saying it is beyond partisan politics.
He said this while addressing reporters after the State Security Council meeting at the Government House in Makurdi on Monday.
Recall that on Saturday, Ortom had said about 15 herdsmen, who were dressed in black, shot at him and his entourage on his farm, where he claimed that he had to run a distance of about 1.5 kilometres to escape.
Speaking on Monday, he said he was not the first governor to be attacked in recent times and may not be the last.
The governor said, “The Borno State governor, who is an APC governor, was once attacked. It is me today; it may be another person tomorrow.
“What we need is that all of us should join hands together to stop this because our country is sitting on a keg of gunpowder and we should avoid anything that can make it explode.
“Even when this thing happened, there were patriotic Fulani men who called, so it is beyond partisan politics because any life lost can never be restored.”
According to him, this was not the first time the Fulani Nationality Movement (FUNAM) would threaten him and carry out the threat.
He said, “In 2018 when 73 people were killed, FUNAM claimed responsibility. When people were killed in June same year in Plateau, FUNAM came out and claimed responsibility and now they have claimed responsibility.
“Two weeks ago, Miyetti Allah Kataore held a meeting in Yola and singled me out as the one creating problems for the Fulani race in Nigeria and I am not against anyone. Many of them live happily in Benue and are doing their legitimate business.”
