Ortom stated further that he did not have any issue with the Fulani herdsmen except those who had vowed to take over Nigeria as their ancestral home.
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, who was attacked by suspected killer herdsmen on Saturday has said he ran about 1.5km to escape rampaging Fulani militias who attempted to assassinate him.
Ortom, at a press conference, said the incident happened at Tyo Mu, along the Makurdi/Gboko Road, around noon when he was returning from his farm.
The governor said he was on his way to Makurdi, the Benue State capital, when about 15 gunmen ambushed and opened fire on his convoy but were repelled by his security men.
Ortom said he had previously gathered intelligence that Fulani herdsmen planned to capture him alive and kill him slowly.
Narrating how he escaped Saturday’s attack, Ortom said he ran a distance of 1.5km to escape being caught by the rampaging gunmen, giving credit to his security men for being able to quell the attack.
“I appreciate the security personnel attached to me. They were able to repel the attackers, so they could not have access to me. I thank God for my fitness to have run for more than one-and-a-half kilometres without stopping. It means that God has given me strength. I’m grateful to God,” he said.
The Benue governor, who said he had to call for reinforcement from security agents, expressed dismay that with the heavy security around him, he could no longer go to the farm in peace.
Ortom wondered how his people would be able to go to their farms in the state.
“Like I always say, my life is in the hands of God, not in any Fulani man’s or anyone else’s hands whatsoever. I still remain firm. I will fight for truth, equity and fairness till when God permits that I will not be here again.
“It is only God who can permit my exit from this earth, not any Fulani man. I want to say it boldly they will continue to fail just like they did today. I had an intelligence report before that these people said that they were going to kill my security aides and then capture me alive and give me a slow killing,” he said.
He said, “They came out with a statement. I was alarmed. They singled me out as the only person who is creating problems for the entire Fulani race. I also heard that at their meeting, I was targeted for elimination. I got information that they would go after me wherever I go, whether at home, in my home, farm, anywhere.”
Ortom stated further that he did not have any issue with the Fulani herdsmen except those who had vowed to take over Nigeria as their ancestral home.
“We are not against the Fulani people who legitimately want to do their business here, including cattle rearing. But you must ranch. That is the law and we are in a democratic era,” he said.
Furthermore, Ortom said his lawyer was going to write a petition against the Miyetti Allah leadership “because they came out to target me and they are planning to eliminate me in my own land.”
The governor also called on President Muhammadu Buhari and security agencies to fish out those who attacked him.
