From Maiharaji Altine, Gusau
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state said he ran for one and a half kilometer in the bush to escape being killed by gunmen.
The Governor, who was narrating how he escaped being killed by gunmen last Saturday said, “I ran a distance of 1.5km to escape being caught by the rampaging gunmen”.
The Governor gave credit to his security men for being able to quell the attack, saying that, “I appreciate the security personnel attached to me who were able to repel the attackers”.
Ortom said, he was thankful to God for giving him the fitness to run for more than one-and-a-half kilometres without stopping.
“God has given me the strength and the stamina to run up to that long distance without stopping”.
He said when he realized that, he had escaped, he called for reinforcement from security agents, expressing dismay that with the heavy security around him, he could no longer go to the farm in peace.
He wondered how his people would be able to go to their farms in the state if a sitting Governor could be easily attacked.
He said, “Like I always say, my life is in the hands of God, not in any Fulani man’s or anyone else’s hands whatsoever. I still remain firm. I will fight for truth, equity and fairness till when God permits that I will not be here again.
“It is only God who can permit my exit from this earth, not any Fulani man. I want to say it boldly they will continue to fail just like they did today”.
“I had an intelligence report before that these people said that they were going to kill my security aides and then capture me alive and give me a slow killing”.
The Governor maintained that, the Fulani has come out with a statement where they accused him of creating problems for them.
“They singled me out as the only person who is creating problems for the entire Fulani race”.
“I also heard that at their meeting, I was targeted for elimination”.
“I got information that they would go after me wherever I go, whether at home, in my home, farm, anywhere,”.
Ortom maintained that, he did not have any issue with the Fulani herdsmen except those who had vowed to take over Nigeria as their ancestral home.
“We are not against the Fulani people who legitimately want to do their business here, including cattle rearing. But you must ranch. That is the law and we are in a democratic era,” he said.
He however maintained that he was going to write a petition against the leadership of Miyetti Allah where he accused them of planning to kill him in his own land.
