The Campaign for Democracy and the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights has described the self defence call by governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State as an indication of the failure of the Federal Government, the state government and security agencies.
Ortom, on Tuesday told the Internally Displaced Persons to go home and use stones to defend themselves.
He charged residents to embrace self-defence over the uncontrollable killings in the state.
This was after the Chairman, Gwer West Local Government Council of Chiefs, Chief Daniel Abomtse said that 24 persons were killed on Thursday attack on Mbapa, Mbapupuu, Mbachohon, and Enger, all in Agagbe District in Gwer-West LGA.
Reacting, CD President, Usman Abdul in a statement, said the government must not seek reelection because it had failed in its primary responsibility to Nigerians, which is providing security.
The statement read “The constitution of our country clearly spells out the protection of lives and property of citizens as the first responsibility of every government. This call by the governor in Benue tells you that the present Federal Government and the state government have failed the people. Why will such proclamation be coming at this crucial time? These are people in abject poverty, in danger and in disarray.
“It is a total failure of the government and it shows this government must not demand a second term in office. It is very unfortunate that the tenure elongation of the service chiefs and heads of security agencies has not translated to better security of lives and property in the country.”
Also, the CDHR President, Malachy Ugwummadu, said the crisis in Beneu State was “a classical picture of a failed leadership at the highest level. The drawback of this episode is that such a statement from the governor graphically paints the depth of frustration and underscores the abysmal failure of leadership and governance in Nigeria.
“My recommendation is that Ortom should spend more time with security experts who can think out of the box for solutions.”
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