President Muhammadu Buhari this week (late Wednesday) expressed disappointment and sadness over attacks on him by the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.
Buhari also sent his condolences to the families of Nigerians have lost their loved ones in the recent spate of killings in the state.
The President spoke through a statement issued by Garba Shehu, his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity.
He said that the “lives of fellow citizens should not be desecrated by deploying them in political diatribe, which unfortunately appeared to be the intent of the string of emotional attacks and blame” by the Benue governor.
Nigeria is currently experiencing its worst peace-time insecurity, with armed groups roaming the length and breadth of the country, kidnapping, killing and maiming. Armed groups, who sometimes disguise as herdsmen, have turned the highways, neighborhoods, farms, schools, and villages into killing fields.
Ortom, whose state has suffered a record loss of citizens and property to the killer herdsmen had accused Buhari of having no interest in protecting Nigerians following recent killings in his state, particularly the attack on an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, which was carried out by persons believed to be herders.
The governor last month narrowly escaped being shot dead by armed herdsmen who opened fire on him as went to inspect his farm.
Buhari, according to Shehu, said that the rising levels of incidents, especially the killings and violence in various parts of the country calls for further collaboration with security agencies to curb its recurrence
“No responsible government takes pleasure in such events as the killing of the military and that of innocent citizens taking refuge in an Internally Displaced People’s camp,” the statement said.
“He (President Buhari) also states his disappointment and sadness to hear Samuel Ortom, the Governor of Benue State make a litany of accusations against his person and his government following the recent unfortunate incidents in the state,” the statement added.
