Benue State governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, yesterday faulted Minister of Defence Mansur Dan-Ali for attributing the invasion of the state by killer herdsmen to the enactment of anti-open grazing laws.

He said it was unfortunate that the minister prefer conferring immunity on cattle to human beings.

He said herdsmen attack on farmers is a monster that has the capacity of consuming the entire country.

He said as at Thursday, there were reports of killings in Guma part of the state.

Ortom, who reacted to the Minister’s claims at the Benue People’s House, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to caution the minister.

He said: “It is unfortunate, but I want to console myself that that thing is not coming from the Honourable Minister. But if it did, I’ll say that it is very, very unfortunate. Then the solution to the security challenges we have in this country is not in sight having those kinds of people in position who are not able to give quality advice and to also proffer solution to the security problems we have here.

“For instance, if you say it is because of the law that killings by herdsmen are going on in Benue, is there any law prohibiting open grazing in Adamawa State? Is there any one in Plateau State? Is there any law in Kaduna, Ondo, Bayelsa, Imo, Ebonyi, Delta or Edo State?

“In Edo State, cattle have taken over even schools. This is provoking. It is like dancing on the graves of those people who were murdered and slaughtered in this state on the first of January. “It’s unfortunate that you have those kinds of people who are saddled with the responsibility of providing security for our country. I do not want to join issues with him, but I will personally see him and try to find out why he had to say that.

The other day, a report came from the Department of State Services (DSS) that it was the Islamic State of West Africa (ISWA) terrorist organisation that is taking over, and I also heard that the minister was quoted as saying we should accommodate foreigners. Foreigners who come here illegally should be accommodated?

“So if a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is coming out to encourage our citizens to do illegal things, I now begin to see why they have given immunity that is the prerogative of the President and the Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors, to herdsmen who kill and even to cattle.

“So, cattle in Nigeria have more immunity than human beings. This is unfortunate, and I look forward that he will apologise to us and retract what he said, because it is an insult on our collective leadership.

“It is wrong. And let the minister know that we are more intelligent than he thinks we are. We will continue to do the right thing. We’re not asking for anything outside the laws of this land. The law prohibiting open grazing that we have enacted was legitimate as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and as law-abiding citizens, we will continue to do this.”

Ortom asked the Federal Government to address the security challenge at hand instead of diverting attention.

He said: “I want to advise the Federal Government to face this challenge squarely because it is their responsibility to provide security for lives and property, because we as a state don’t own the security apparatus of this country.

“So it is their responsibility. Instead of diverting attention, they should address the security challenges at hand.

“Today, they will say that Ortom is arming 6,000 militia and tomorrow they will go and sponsor people to write rubbish about me and all that just to try to divert attention. Why not face the real issue that is confronting us?

“This is a monster that has the capacity of consuming the entire country, and we must arise as leaders and support Mr. President to ensure that we surmount this.

Responding to a question, he asked the President to caution the Defence Minister.

He added: “Well, I’ll see what Mr. President will do, because I’m sure that he must have also heard what the minister said and I expect that he’ll respond to that because it’s wrong.

“I want to believe that the Mr. President I know and who I supported and I’m still supporting is an upright person who is always truthful and he’ll say the right thing and caution his minister, because I can’t believe that a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at this time will come and add insult to our injury.

“We are pained by what this man came out to say yesterday.”

On the likely backlash of his protest against the killings in the state by the powers that be, he said he would continue to stick to the truth.

“Whatever it is I say, it does not matter. As long as I’m on the side of the truth and doing the wish of my people, I’m satisfied. I don’t care about any gang-up. It doesn’t matter.

“But I heard it; gang up to do this and that. But it doesn’t matter,” he said.

The governor also said the death toll in Benue killings could be higher than 73.

He expressed regrets that the herdsmen were also killing security personnel.

“I’ve not got the complete figure, but there is a committee working on that. But even on the burial, I did say that the deaths were more than 73.

Even yesterday, there were some killings in Guma, including a policeman. One policeman was wounded and one is still missing. You see, these people are joking.

“If terrorists that are hired by herdsmen under the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore that are known by the Federal Government have gone beyond killing our people who are civilians to killing security personnel, if security men are being killed in this manner, where is our safety? That is what the minister of Defence should be concerned about.

“They know where these people are, so they are making me to believe that the Minister of Defence is also part of the conspiracy against Benue State, and is not about grazing, it is about occupation, taking over the land.

“That is what Miyetti Allah said, and they have accepted that it should be so. This is not correct.”

Addressing State House correspondents after a meeting President Muhammadu Buhari had with security chiefs on Thursday, Dan-Ali blamed the recent killings in Benue State on the state’s anti-open grazing law.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/01/herdsmen-defence-minister-under-attack.html

hmmm

Buhary should sack him now!

Observing ..

What do you expect. They are telling you what buhari has in mind. The minister didn't speak out of his own volition. These are buhari's fall-guys.
After budget padding no one was sacked.
After the Illegal backdoor recruitment in FIRS, no one was sacked.
After the NNPC saga, no one was sacked.
After a senior military officer threatened revenge after the killing of Fulani herdsmen in numan no body was even questioned.
After the Maina saga, no one was sacked. Even the AGF was bold enough to say it will not affect buhari's image.

These are all his fall guys. Nothing can be done to them and they know.

Ortom, e be like say your people never die reach abi?
Better stop playing Mumu-loyalty and take actions on your own.

It reflects no intent in ending the issue.

My Dear Ortom, never mind him. He is a Minister of Deceipt on the Fence.

Buhari is a cow
The onli tn wey dey worri am na cow matter.

When I listened to the Minister of Defense, Munir Dan-Ali, I was deeply shocked. I couldn't imagine that a person at that level could be so careless & least-tactful with words. He in fact said "I insist its communal clashes"! I then came to a conclusion that the Federal Government may know more about these killings! Here are my reasons
1. The President had earlier said it was herdsmen from Senegal & other African countries.
2. The DSS says it's an arm of ISIS
3. The Minister of Defense & IG of police believe it's communal clashes.
4. Miyetti Allah tells you that the killing will continue until the Anti open grazing law is banished
5. Several reports of helicopters providing supplies in these areas, in the deep of the night have been heard (most recently Taraba & Adamawa, & earlier in Agatu)
6. Others think some Boko haramites have left Sambisa to the mainland.
Let me stop here.
A very important point to note is that, these same men attend the same National security meeting! The question now is "WHY ARE THEY SAYING DIFFERENT THINGS AS TO WHO THE ATTACKERS ARE"?
Now, irrespective of who the real attackers are, there's a need for the security apparatus to swing in to action. But one wonders, why are they docile and relaxed? How can the territorial integrity of the country be violated and the president is sending in the police? If the FG thinks it's all about Benue, Adamawa & Plateau then they're not learning from history. When Boko Haram started, only churches were being bombed. Now that there are no Churches within reach, we are all here in Maiduguri seeing what is happening. Finally, Nigerians should be ready for more arrest, detention & killing of people who say things that doesn't appease the government. Truth is, it has started already. But silence is not an option. Because a coward is mourned twice - when he's alive, and when he's dead. #myonekobo

Herdsmen are fulani.
Buhari is fulani.
Defence minister is fulani.


Mr Ortom, do you expect them to condemn their kith and kin?

Such a pity.

FG said the killer herdsmen are foreigners, they are members of Islamic State, West Africa branch.
Now, defence minister is telling Benue state governor to "accommodate the foreigners"
Foreigners who entered into the country illegally are meant to be accommodated?

Buhari consciously appointed his brain dead Fulani kinsmen to be heads of sensitive security agencies. Imagine what a defence minister is spitting out.

FG said the killings in Benue is due to the anti open grazing bill just signed into law. That the law should be repealed. Meanwhile, these killings still persists in states where no such law exists. Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa, Delta, Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun and other states have no such laws, yet herdsmen still kill in those states. So, the anti grazing law in Benue isn't what is causing the killings.
People should know that Fulani herdsmen don't need any reason to kill. They are on a quest. A jihad. A long term plan of conquest. Anyone who welcomes them is courting death and destruction. Now that their kinsmen are the heads of all security agencies in the country, as well as the president, they have become more daring and bold. No arrests, no prosecution, and their members openly display rifles in a country that such is illegal...and you think you are under same law as them?

Don't live under the delusion that they are only after grass to feed their cattle.

Have you noticed the STEEL FACE, STRAIGHT MECHANICAL ROBOT WALKING not different from ADOLF HITLER master of progrom. God save Nigeria!

Defence Minister, defend yourself