Bauchi Governor Owes Nigerians Apology- Ortom

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has said that his Bauchi State counterpart, Alhaji Bala Mohammed owes Nigerians apology over his comments that herdsmen should carry AK-47 and other sophisticated weapons.

Governor Ortom who spoke on Monday, while addressing journalists at the New Banquet Hall of Benue Peoples House, Makurdi said the comment was uncalled for and an indication that Bala Mohammed was part of those terrorising the country.

He stated that Nigeria’s constitution does not allow anyone except security agents to carry arms, stressing that his colleague should go back and read the constitution to keep himself abreast of such issues.

The Governor urged Bala Mohammed to learn from the Governors of Kano and Kaduna as well as scholars who had supported calls to ban open grazing and the need not to pamper bandits in the country.

He noted that herdsmen who are not willing to obey the laws of the state should relocate to Bauchi where Bala Mohammed has allowed them to carry guns, pointing out that herders attacks had left hundreds of thousands in IDP camps and dealt a heavy blow on children in the camps.

The Governor said his call for the declaration of state of emergency in Nigeria was a patriotic one which has the backing of Nigerian senators, expressing the hope that his letter to Mr. President would receive the desired attention.

He sympathised with his Niger State counterpart over the recent kidnapping of students of Government Science College Kagara and commuters by unknown gunmen.

The Governor who also spoke on a variety of issues lauded security agents for improved security in the Sankera geopolitical axis, saying the ban on the use of motorcycles in Katsina-Ala had yielded positive results.