Most herdsmen killing our people are not even Nigerians – Gov Ortom

 

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, on Thursday, revealed that foreign Fulani herdsmen who illegally migrated into the country are mostly the problem of Nigerians.

 

The governor called on President, Muhammadu Buhari, to push for a review of the ECOWAS protocol for movement of persons, goods and services within the West African sub-region.

 

While addressing newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, the governor who had been on the news recently over his comment on the incessant herdsmen/farmers’ crisis in many parts of the country noted that the herders were taking advantage of the protocols to breach peace across the country.

 

According to the governor, “In neighbouring countries like Ghana and Benin, people are properly profiled before they are allowed into the county. People coming into Nigeria have to be properly profiled before they are allowed in. It is there in the ECOWAS protocol, I have studied it, I have my lawyers to also study it.

 

“Most of the herdsmen killing our people are not even Nigerians, even the president himself said this during his visit to the United Arab Emirates.”

 

Governor Ortom said the law prohibiting open grazing in Benue State was the reason for “the relative peace we are enjoying”.

 

The governor had earlier accused President Muhammadu Buhari of nepotism and said the Federal Government deliberately refused to caution the armed Fulani men against killing innocent Nigerians.

 

Governor Ortom’s comment had landed him several verbal attacks from the presidency and supporters of President Buhari.