Gunmen have reportedly attacked the convoy of Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom on Saturday afternoon, March 20.
According to TheCable, the incident was said to have occurred at Tyo Mu along Makurdi/Gboko road.
Ortom was reportedly on his way to Makurdi when the gunmen opened fire on his convoy, but his security aides were said to have repelled the attack.
Briefing journalists following the incident, Ortom, who described the gunmen as ‘herdsmen’, said about 15 of the attackers trailed him to the river bank where he was on foot.
The governor praised his security details that were just about six in number for responding quickly to the attack and repelled them promptly before providing cover for him to return to safety and his vehicle.
He said;
My lawyer is going to make a petition against the leadership of MACBAN [Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria] because they came out to target me and behind the scene, they are planning to eliminate me on my own land.
If I can’t go to the farm as governor with entire security around me then who else can go to the farm? You can imagine the pains that we have here in Benue State.
I appreciate the security personnel attached to me they were able to repel them and they could not have access to me.
He said troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, the police, and DSS have been mobilised to the forest between Tyo-Mu and Abinse where the armed herdsmen are camped to comb the area.
Ortom also called for the arrest and prosecution of the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore who only last week, gathered in Yola, the Adamawa State capital to single him out for assassination.
Speaking further, Ortom asked President Muhammadu Buhari and the security chiefs to expect a formal petition from his lawyers and move quickly to arrest the situation.
