December 22, (THEWILL) – Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, has distributed vehicles and motorcycles to district and clan heads in Tiv and Idoma speaking areas, as well as Livestock guards and Benue Community Volunteer Guards, BCVG, in the state.
Governor Ortom, who performed the ceremony at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi, on Thursday, explained that the traditional rulers will have 279 vehicles, Benue Community Volunteer guards have 460 Motorcycles, while Livestock guards will have 30 motorcycles and 2 vehicles.
According to him, the aim was to fortify security system in the state with the help of the conventional security agents operating in the state; saying with the gesture, the beneficiaries have no business to fail in their duties.
The governor announced that his adminstration is targeting at recruiting 10,000 youths into the guards, assuring of his decision not to repeal the anti open grazing prohibition Act passed and signed into law.
He pointed out that some Benue people, who accept money from terrorists, herdsmen to blackmail the state security outfit will regret their action in times to come, describing them as enemies of the state.
“Those who think I’m alone in the fight to protect the Benue valley are jokers. As long as Federal Government is yet to take concrete steps towards protecting Benue communities, I will continue to stand by the decision of Benue people that calls for enactment of anti open grazing prohibition Act, 2017.”
The Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, who was represented at the occasion by the Tor Lobi, Chief Moses Anageende, commended governor Ortom for uplifting the lives of traditional rulers in the state in the past seven years.
He urged governor Ortom to liaise with his counterparts from Taraba and Nasarawa states, where herdsmen pass through to attack Benue farming communities.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the governor on Security Matters, Colonel Paul Hemba rtd, commended governor Ortom for his unflinching support to conventional security agents operating in the state.
He said the donation of vehicles and Motorcycles to Benue Community Volunteer Guards and Livestock Guards will go a long way in checking security breaches in hinter lands and charged them to operate within the acceptable rules and regulations guiding its establishment.
