Ortom suspends vacation, rushes home to intervene in communal bloodshed

Governor, Samuel Ortom, Benue State has suspended his vacation
overseas to return to Nigeria and handle the rising inter-communal
clashes that have been claiming lives and destroying property in
border towns and other communities of the state.
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Terverr Akase, in a
statement indicated that the governor’s decision to cut short his
leave became necessary following renewed killings of innocent citizens
and destruction of property by gunmen, especially, in the Sankera area
of the state.
The Deputy Governor has been relating with the Governor of Taraba
State to find solution to the Jukun/Tiv violent clash that have led to
the death of many people, before another outburst of violence in
Katsina-Ala.

Ortom has appealed for calm; assuring the people of the affected
communities that Benue State Government will do everything lawfully
possible to ensure the end of the crisis and guarantee their safety.
The governor noted that as part of peace efforts, the Deputy Governor,
Benson Abounu, recently led a state delegation to Taraba State where
they engaged on the best approach to end the lingering crisis between
the people of border communities in the two states.
Ortom expressed optimism that sooner than later, peace would return to
the troubled communities.
The Benue governor appealed to those taking advantage of the crisis to
whip up sentiments, to remember that Benue is the only state they have
and if they allow politics to destroy it, the impact of such
destruction will affect everyone irrespective of political
affiliation.
He encouraged the people of Benue State to sustain the support and
collaboration with the state government in restoring peace to all
parts of the state.