The governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has stated that his government cannot be spending money on security in this recession.
Benue has been in crises in recent times following incessant attacks on the people of the state by herdsmen as well as attacks by gunmen in some parts of the state.
The Federal Government had deployed security forces to comb the flash points across the state, leading to the arrest of several persons linked to most wanted criminal, Terwase Akwanza, aka Gana.
Addressing reporters at the government house, Makurdi, on his return from China, the governor maintained that money meant for security could be used to solve other problems.
He reiterated the need for ranching as a panacea for putting an end to the clash between herdsmen and farmers in the country.
According to him, “The solution to Fulani invasion is ranching. There is nowhere in the world where we have cattle moving about except in Nigeria. Why must we live with animals? How can we continue to spend on security in the midst of recession?
“We must ranch our cattle. Nigeria must come together to support herdsmen ranch their cattle.”
While reacting to the recent clash between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in Ikpayongo area of the state in which six persons were reportedly killed and many others injured, he urged the youths to be law abiding and stop taking laws into their hands.
Ortom advised the people of the state to always report whenever there were issues to the appropriate quarters so that government could take up the matter with a view to finding solutions to them.
He added, “Report where there are issues. Two wrongs can never make a right. People will begin to be afraid of Benue if we continue this way. No matter the provocation, we must be law abiding so that government can fight for us.”
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