Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has said that he had to run for dear life when he was attacked by suspected militia herdsmen on his farm at Tyo-mu, along Makurdi – Gboko road earlier on Saturday.
Briefing the press at the Benue Peoples House after the incident, Ortom said he was inspecting his farm when the militia herders, who were dressed in black, ambushed him and his security men and opened fire.
The governor said his security men engaged the assailants in gun fire while he while he ran a long distance to avoid being hit.
The Governor claimed he received intelligence report to the effect that the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore held a meeting in Yola a few days before the incident and singled him out as a thorn in their flesh that must be eliminated.
Ortom said he his reliance was in God and he was convinced no Fulani militia could take it without God’s permission.
Ortom said the ranching law of the state remained and his administration would not be intimidated to reverse the decision of Benue people against open grazing.
The governor vowed to send a petition to the President and security chiefs against Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, saying that allowing the leadership of the group to walk freely with security personnel attached to them was not in the best interest of the country.
