Benue: Ortom floats Community Volunteer Guards to check ‘killer’ herdsmen

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has commissioned Community Volunteer Guards, as a private security outfit to frontally confront killer Herdsmen in the state.

The Governor during the passing out parade of first batch of 500 Community Volunteer Guards held at the IBBS Square, Makurdi declared that “enough is enough of killing, maiming and raping our women.”

Ortom explained that the establishment of the State Security outfit is in response to the failure by the Federal Government to live up to its responsibility, that responsible State Governments have been forced to step in to complement the efforts of the official Security Agencies.

He said: “As a State Government, this is one expensive investment that we would have preferred to avoid if it was not forced upon us by the perpetual siege that has been mounted on our land by vicious Fulani terrorists.

“Their reign of terror has led to the displacement of over 1.5Million persons from their ancestral homes and communities who are now living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camps.

“The recurrent and wanton attacks by terrorist Fulanis on unarmed and innocent people of Benue State has claimed over 5,000 lives from 2011 to date. 

“We are ready to wage war against this evil with the last pint of our blood; nobody can intimidate us.

“Benue State Government is going to apply for a License to legally procure AK47, AK49 and other sophisticated weapons for the Benue State Volunteers Guards to enable them tackle these murderous terrorists effectively.

“Over 30 operational vehicles and 200 communication gadgets have been procured in addition to motorcycles to patrol the hinterlands”, Ortom intimated.

He urged the Guards to abide by their rules of engagement and complement the efforts of conventional security agencies, warning sternly that anyone found wanting, will be sacked and prosecuted.