Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has given reason why he believes that President Muhammadu Buhari was “complicit” in the clashes between herders and farming communities in the state.
Mr Ortom spoke when he appeared as a guest on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on Wednesday.
Like in other parts of Nigeria, herders and farmers have been in a prolonged conflict in Benue, with frequent attacks and killings of people.
Speaking during the TV programme, Mr Ortom insisted that Mr Buhari has been complicit in the clashes between the herders and farmers in the state.
The governor said he floated Community Volunteer Guards, a vigilante group, to assist the conventional security agencies in checking herders’ attacks in the state, but claimed that Mr Buhari declined the state government’s request for permission to provide automatic weapons to the vigilante group.
“It is unfortunate that the federal government seems to be complicit in the manner the herdsmen are killing our people. I had interfaced with the federal authorities, Mr President, I have sat with him and I brought these things before him.
“The truth is that when you allow the Fulani herdsmen to carry AK-47 (rifles) and then allow the local people and even the Community Volunteer Guards to carry pump action rifles, (they cannot confront the herdsmen),” he said, adding that the
