Ortom begs Nigerians to come to aid of Benue IDPs

Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue, has appealed to Nigerians to support internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the state.

Ortom spoke on Sunday at separate thanksgiving masses held at St Dominic Catholic Church, Sachi, and St Joseph’s Quasi-Parish, Nyon, to mark the anniversary celebrations of Titus Uba, speaker of the Benue house of assembly, and Paul Unongo, a former chairman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), respectively.

TheCable had reported how insecurity has forced many residents of Benue to abandon their farms and seek refuge in IDP camps.

According to a statement by Terver Akase, the governor’s spokesman, Ortom said the humanitarian crisis has overstretched the resources of the state.

“Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has solicited the support of Nigerians to cushion the effect of the humanitarian crisis in the State occasioned by the over five years stay of people in Internally Displaced Persons’ camps,” the statement reads.

“Governor Ortom acknowledged the support of the Church, especially the Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe; the Governors of Rivers, Taraba and Akwa Ibom States, donor and faith-based organisations, as well as individuals to the plight of the over 1.5 million IDPs.

“The Governor also called on Nigerians to continue to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders in the country to enable them provide leadership that would engender peace and unity in the country.

“He congratulated the celebrants on their birthday celebrations and wished them greater days ahead.”

In his remarks on Uba, the governor described the speaker as a humble personality under whose leadership the state assembly has enacted people-oriented laws.