Herdsmen are planning to kidnap, kill me - Gov. Ortom

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has alleged that armed herdsmen have perfected plans to kidnap and kill him along the Makurdi/Lafia highway.

Speaking during an interactive session with stakeholders at an event organised by the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi held at the Pastoral Centre in the Benue State capital on Friday, he claimed that the killer herders planned to assassinate him along the Makurdi/Lafia road, being the only route to Abuja from his state.

Ortom disclosed that he had received an intelligence report about the plan to have him kidnapped and murdered.

The Governor said he got an intelligence report which indicated that the herdsmen who are currently occupying parts of Guma Local Government Area of the state were already hatching plans to attack him.

He said, “The armed herdsmen, according to the intelligence report, would ensure that all my security aides were killed, after which they would kidnap and torture me before killing me.

“Already, I had reported the matter to the Police and other security agencies and they are aware of this.

“Therefore, anytime my spirit doesn’t allow me to travel by road, I would call flight operators. But, just a few days ago, the Federal Government has issued a circular directing that no flight should land in Makurdi Airport again.”

Ortom also alleged that some Benue indigenes have connived with “forces in Abuja” to kill him.