The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Monday said that no fewer than 900 people had surrendered over 700 illegally acquired arms, ammunition and Improvised Explosive Device to the amnesty panel in the state.
Ortom made the declaration on Monday at the Benue People’s House, Makurdi, when he hosted the Assistant Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps in charge of Zone ‘H’, comprising Benue, Taraba, and Kogi states, Mr. Joseph Oragande.
He assured people of the state that his administration would continue to make security its priority.
Ortom said, “The citizens who are mostly farmers and investors who are mostly foreigners need to be protected and I believe the overall boss of the NSCDC used wisdom to post Oragande to Benue at the time farmers and ranchers and other citizens are facing the problem of security.’’
He promised to work alongside with the new assistant commandant general to tackle the security challenge.
Ortom commended the NSCDC for its role in ensuring security saying that his administration is using the carrot and stick approach to tackle the menace.
Earlier, Oragande had told the governor that the Commandant General and the Minister of Internal Affairs had expressed satisfaction with the relationship between the state government and the organisation, adding that the NSCDC “now has some departments that handle crisis and other issues especially the farmers and Fulani herdsmen conflict.”
Dolapo is a writer and journalist who works with YNaija. He has interests in Christianity, politics and sports.
Leave a reply