The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as unfortunate the broad day light assasination attempt on the Benue State governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom on Saturday.
Reacting through a statement which was made available to journalists, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan urged the Nigeria Police to carry out a thorough investigation of the incident.
Fulani herders on Saturday attacked the entourage of Benue State governor while on a visit to his farm at Tyo-mu along Makurdi-Gboko road.
It took the effort of security details of the governor to repel the attack.
Governor Ortom at a press briefing at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi confirmed that the gunmen who attempted assasination on were ‘Fulani herders’ noting that it took the intervention of his security aides to wade them off.
But Ologbondiyan described the development as worrisome as the attack came after Ortom had called on the federal government to protect the life and property of Nigerians.
Part of the statement reads:
“PDP expresses shock at the attack on Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue state, by alleged herdsmen,” Ologbondiyan said.
“It is worrisome that this attack is coming on the heels of passionate demands by Dr. Ortom that FG live up to its responsibility on the protection of life and property of Nigerians.”
Ortom had claimed that the Fulani socio-cultural group at meeting in Yola accused him of being a stumbling block to activities by insisting on ban on open grazing in Benue.
He.said, the herders have plans to eliminate him, a development he reiterated calls on the Federal Government to rise to the ocassion of protecting lives and properties of citizens.
