The Governor of Benue state Governor Samuel Ortom was attacked on Saturday while leaving his farm on Makurdi-Gboko Road.
Ortom, who appeared ruffled while speaking to journalists on Saturday at the Benue People’s House, Makurdi, said armed militia men, numbering about 15, advanced quickly towards his convoy with sophisticated weapons but were repelled by his security details.
He said the men, dressed in black, had trailed his convoy from the farm.
Ortom said he had to run for dear life while his security details engaged the bandits who escaped into the nearby bushes.
“I will continue to fight for the truth, equity and justice. Nobody can intimidate me, those after my life will continue to fail as they failed today,” he said.
He said that he would send a petition on attack to The Presidency, to ensure that criminal elements were flushed out of the state.
He also called on the Federal Government to act swiftly by deploying troops to arrest armed militia gangs hiding in the forests between Makurdi and Abinsi to allow peace and tranquility to reign.
The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Mohammed Adamu, has ordered full-scale investigations into the circumstances surrounding the attack and reported attempt on the life of Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue.
The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Frank Mba, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
Mba said that the I-G condemned the incident and directed the Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of Benue to strengthen and improve security in the state, particularly around the Governor.
He said that the I-G had also directed the CP to carry out painstaking investigations into the incident and ensure the arrest and prosecution of persons indicted in the course of the investigations.
According to him, to ensure a speedy, thorough and conclusive investigations into the matter, the I-G has ordered the immediate deployment of a team of specialised investigators from the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID).
He said that the deployment was to provide additional investigative support to the Police Command in Benue.
Mba called for calm and pledged the commitment of the Force to continue to do its best in stabilising the security situation in the country.
He said that the force would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to advance the fight against violent crimes and other criminal activities across the country.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the Saturday attack and alleged assassination attempt on Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue by suspected bandits.
The party made the condemnation in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja on Saturday.
Ologbondiyan called on President Muhammadu Buhari to put machinery in motion by ordering an immediate manhunt, arrest and prosecution of the assailants and beef up security around the governor.
He said that the PDP was shocked that the assailants trailed Ortom and opened fire on his motorcade and his aides on Makurdi/Gboko road, in an attack aimed to assassinate the governor.
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“Our party is worried that this brazen attempt at Ortom’s life is coming on the heels of his outspokenness in exposing those allegedly behind the incessant attacks of communities in the state and demanding protection for people and property in the state.
He said that the PDP feared for the life of Ortom, urging the Federal Government to take decisive step to check the escalated insecurity and brazen attacks on innocent Nigerians.
“The PDP, however, calls on Gov. Ortom not to be deterred by the attack but to remain courageous and at alert, at all times while providing leadership to the people of his state.”
Ologbondiyan called on the people of Benue to be calm and vigilant while providing useful information to security agencies to flush bandits and criminal elements out of the state and other parts of the country
