Gov Ortom brands Police PRO spokesman for herdsmen

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has said that the Nigeria Police Public Relation Officer, Jimoh Moshood, has now become the spokesman of the killer herdsmen in Benue State.

He was reacting to the claim by the police that they have confirmed the existence of militia groups in Benue State armed with AK47.

Moshood, had in reaction to an earlier statement by Governor Ortom that there was no such thing as militia in Benue State armed with AK47, said while speaking on Channels TV that the police have evidence showing the ranch guards who were inaugurated by the state government armed with proficient weapons.

Countering Ortom, Moshood had said, “Yes, I’m disputing that because we have evidence that they were armed with AK-47 rifles. Yes, they were armed with AK-47; we have records, we have footage and you can’t just start arming people.

“There are a lot of militia groups equally in Benue and we are looking at all those areas to ensure that the actual perpetrators of this mayhem are promptly arrested.”

But responding to the latest claim by the police, Chief Press Secretary, to the governor, Terve Akase, told Channels TV that the police are only trying to justify the killings in Benue.

He said, the “Statement by Police spokesman on militia groups being armed is very funny. I think police is trying to neutralise killings in Benue State.

“It should be a concern to Nigerians, the police are not supposed to take sides, Jimoh Moshood has positioned himself as spokesman of herdsmen by his statement. He would not have made such a statement if he was not herdsmen’s spokesman

“Why would PPRO grant an interview and try to play down on killings in the state. What kind of country are we running? That shows Nigeria Police don’t have respect for human rights. Police Force set up to protect Nigeria is trying to play down killings; that means that Benue people have been left to their faith.

“Nigerians need to know that police has taken sides. This proves that there is more to the killing. His statement is deceitful. What has happened in Benue should be condemned. The police seem clueless in and are deliberately ignoring their duties.

The governor’s Chief Press Secretary then challenged the police to arrest and parade those behind the killings since they have evidence.

READ ALSO: University don stokes crisis, declares Fulani owners of Benue State land by conquest

He added, “Why is the IG yet to summit report if they have evidence? Ortom is a peaceful man who declared amnesty on armed youths in the state. More than 800 youths were disarmed and 700 weapons recovered and destroyed by police.

“This same man can’t turn around and arm militia groups. If he had money to arm them, he wouldn’t call on the federal government to do their duty or call security agencies to defend Benue.”

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now