Gov Ortom survives assassination attempt in Benue

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Saturday survived assassination attempt by gunmen identified to be herdsmen at Tyo Mu on the Makurdi/Gboko route in Makurdi Local Government Area.

Ortom in a media interaction after the attack, identified the attackers as ‘herdsmen’; he disclosed that the attackers, numbering over 15 armed men trailed him to the river bank where he was walking on foot, making it a target point to strike, but for the urgent intervention of his security details.

Governor Ortom commended his security details, who he said consisted of  six personnel, who responded immediately to repel  the attackers, then provided cover for him to return to safety and his car.

The governor disclosed that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, the police, and DSS have commenced search operations in the forest between Tyo-Mu and Abinse where the armed herdsmen sited their camp to comb the area for the attackers.

Governor Ortom demanded immediate arrest and prosecution of the leaders of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore who he said gathered last week in Yola, Adamawa State, where they marked him out for assassination.

Governor Ortom revealed his intention to send a formal petition through his lawyers to President Muhammadu Buhari and the security chiefs to demand that they move quickly to arrest the insecurity situation in the country.

Gunmen had struck a fortnight ago in Makurdi, Benue State, killing the elder brother of a former Governor of the state, Senator Gabriel Suswam, including an aide to the senator.