“Tinubu Gave Orders, But Nothing Has Happened” – Ortom on Benue Crisis

Former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has said that the directives issued by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his recent visit to the state have not been acted upon. Ortom made the statement during an interview on Channels Television on Monday, weeks after Tinubu’s June 18 visit to Benue in response to the Yelewata attack that claimed more than 100 lives.

During the visit, President Tinubu had called on former governors and traditional rulers to collaborate with Governor Hyacinth Alia in addressing the worsening security situation. However, Ortom stated that no follow-up meetings or consultations have taken place since the president’s directive.

“We have not had any meeting, so maybe we are still waiting if the governor calls to go there, because Benue State belongs to us, and there is no way we can allow this to continue to happen,” Ortom said. He emphasized that the Yelewata attack was personal to him, as the affected area falls within his local government and holds familial ties. “Where this incident took place, in Yelewata, where over 200 people were killed, that is my local government. The mother of my father comes from that Yelewata. So, it is as good as home. It is my place, and we are waiting for the governor, if he calls us, we’ll go there,” he added.

Reflecting on his tenure as governor, Ortom highlighted the measures he took to collaborate with traditional leaders, local communities, and security forces to combat violence. He reiterated his opposition to policies such as Ruga and cattle colonies under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, which he described as deceptive. “Each time they brought it, I stood against it. It’s unfortunate they didn’t listen because I gave statistics on what is obtainable in other countries. There is no way cattle rearing and farmers can cohabit. There will be crisis,” Ortom said.

He also claimed that much of the violence in Benue has been fueled by foreign actors, alleging that attackers include individuals from Chad, Niger, Senegal, Mali, and Libya, in collaboration with local elements. “People here collaborated with those foreigners to invade our land and take over. It is a deliberate attempt to wipe out a particular people. That is the truth,” he stated.

While he commended President Tinubu for visiting Benue in the aftermath of the Yelewata killings and ordering security agencies to act, Ortom contrasted this response with that of the previous administration. “This government, when the Yelewata attack happened, the president went there himself, and he ordered the security agencies to apprehend those people. This did not happen when the former government was there,” he said.