Buhari meets Ortom amid outrage over attack on governor

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, met with Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue state.

Ortom’s convoy was attacked by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen while on a visit to his farm on Saturday.

The governor had said the gunmen, numbering about 15, trailed his convoy to the river bank where he was on foot with his security details to inspect his farm and opened fire on them.

Ortom had also called for the arrest and prosecution of the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.

Speaking to state house correspondents after meeting with Buhari, Ortom said he came to commend the president for the statement he made condemning the attack.

He said Buhari has accepted the suggestions he made on the security situation in the state.

The governor said he was saddened by those expressing doubts that his convoy was attacked by the gunmen, wondering “what benefits would accrue to him from claiming what did not happen”.

He asked Nigerians to deemphasise politics on the issue of security, saying all citizens must work together to tackle the menace.

He also commended his colleagues for standing by him over the attack.

The governor said he did nothing wrong in enacting a law beneficial to the state.

Different reactions have continued to trail the attack with many condemning it.

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) had said the attempt to make Benue ungovernable was unacceptable and would fail woefully.

Kayode Fayemi, chairman of NGF, had described the attack on Ortom as “shocking and a rude awakening”, adding that all hands must be on deck to uncover the identities of those involved in the “heinous crime”.

Buhari also condemned the attack, saying it was unacceptable.

The president’s reaction came after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused him of being silent on the attack.

Buhari also called on the police to fish out the perpetrators of the attack and bring them to justice.

Editor’s note: The picture used in this report is not from Tuesday’s meeting.