Herdsmen killings: Akume told me not to sign open grazing law – Ortom

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has disclosed that Senator George
Akume told him not to assent to the Open Grazing Prohibition and
Ranches Establishment Law.

He made the disclosure on Tuesday at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi
during a joint courtesy call on him by Masev Development Association
(MDA), Mbalom Unity and Progress Association (MUPA) Makurdi and
Dooshima U Kasev Mbasa.

The Governor explained that when he gathered Benue stakeholders in
May, 2017 to sign the ranching law in their presence, Akume called him
aside and asked him not to assent to the law without giving any
convincing reason.

He noted that when he told Akume to inform the stakeholders about his
advice, the Senator left him in anger.

The Governor wondered why a senator whose constituency had suffered
greater amount of human and material losses to herders' attacks would
oppose a law proferring solution to the carnage and go out telling the
world that his people were killing themselves.

He directed the immediate construction of classroom blocks at LGEA
Primary School Atu and the sinking of two boreholes in Mbasa, assuring
the people that he would also address the challenges presented by the
other groups as resources permitted.

Meanwhile, the people of Mbalom have disagreed with Senator George
Akume over his recent comments that the two priests and 17 other
worshippers were killed by Benue people and not herders.

Mr. Samuel Abagi, President of MUPA while differing with Senator Akume
over the claim said their kinsmen were killed by militia herdsmen,
stressing that they were in support of the ranching law of the state
and the entire administration of Governor Ortom.

Mr. Nicolas Gyegwe, leader of the MDA delegation and Patrick Ningir,
while speaking for MDA and Mbasa respectively, pledged their
unflinching support for the administration of the Governor and his
reelection in 2019.