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GOVERNOR Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, on Thursday, March 16, said he ordered all armed herdsmen out of Benue State because they engaged in killing citizens without provocation.

Ortom said he took the decision in order to ensure the safety of lives and property of the citizens of the state.

The governor, who spoke with State House correspondents shortly after the National Economic Council, NEC, meeting at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, however, said unarmed herdsmen and those who do not engage in violence also need protection.

Ortom had on Monday, given Fulani herdsmen in Tombo-Mbalagh, Buruku Local Government Area of the state, a two-day ultimatum to leave the area.

He gave the order in Tombo-Mbalagh during a visit to ascertain the damage allegedly inflicted on the community by herdsmen over the weekend.

Ortom said the major work of citizens of the state is farming. He, however, said “when you go to their farmlands and destroy their crops and then when they complain, you kill them. That will never be acceptable. I will not fold my hands to watch this happen.”

He said he had given order to security men to arrest all arms-bearing herdsmen.

He also recalled that an amnesty programme he launched earlier enabled him to “disarm the criminal elements in my society because I believe in the rule of law and due process.

“Without the rule of law, there is no way we can govern. A stronger person will come and take over the affairs of the state from where ever you are. And so, we must abide by the rule of law,” he said.

Ortom said apart from fighting corruption, governments at all levels must be ready to fight impunity as well. He said impunity was worse than corruption.

“Another thing is impunity, it is worse than corruption. So, while we are fighting corruption, we must also fight impunity. This is not right.

“Those armed herdsmen, are they above the law? So, the security men must track, arrest and prosecute them according to the law.

“I have told my people that as farmers, they have no business carrying arms. And so, I will protect them as long as I am governor is my state,” he said.

—  Mar 27, 2017 @ 01:00 GMT

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