Metro
ORTOM: How I spent millions treating snake bite victims
Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, on Tuesday said that 20 years ago he received a divine mandate to help victims of snake bites that were unable to treat themselves.
He said that in three months alone he had spent N31 million treating snake bite victims.
The governor was responding to the allegation that he owns and operates a snake farm at his Oracle Farm along Naka Road, Makurdi.
He was alleged to be the owner of a consignment full of snakes that was intercepted last week by the Nigerian Customs in Calabar.
But Ortom, who spoke to newsmen on Tuesday on the matter after he returned from United Kingdom where he spent two weeks on leave, denied owning any snake farm.
He said that he only has a foundation that takes care of poor and peasant farmers in the rural areas bitten by snakes but do not have money to treat themselves.
The governor then argued that people are free to undertake any kind of farming, including that of snakes, so long as it is permitted by the constitution.
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While declaring his intention to continue keeping St. Theresa and Rahama Hospitals, Makurdi, which specialise in treating people bitten by snakes, the governor explained that over one million people have so far received treatment in the two hospitals for various degrees of snake bites
He said, “As at June ending when the management of St . Theresa Hospital , Makurdi , brought the accumulated bills of three months to me, I had incurred N 31 million for treating victims of snake bites.
“ People should rather encourage someone who is committed to saving lives.”
Ortom further said that if had the power, he would have ensured that all the snakes across the state are killed as the have become a burden to the state.
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