Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State
By Anthony Maliki
On Saturday March 20, 2021, the news media had been taken over by the sad news of the attack on the convoy of the Benue State Governor, His Excellency Samuel Ortom by the suspected Fulani herdsmen.
Governor Ortom himself gave an account of how the incident took place and was sure of his attackers to be Fulani herdsmen.
The National Association of Jukun Wanu (NAJUWA) on behalf of the riverine Jukun expresses deep sympathy with the Governor and condemn the attack in totality.
Worried by the attack on the Governor by the suspected Fulani herdsmen, the Governor shortly after, issued a press statement to the journalists in Makurdi of how the incident occured. However, we are worried by the sudden twist in the narrative when Governor Ortom ordered the arrest of three Jukun Wanu fisherman on the island in River Benue along Abinsi axis where they settled for their fishing activities.
Security agencies that arrested them set ablaze their properties worth millions of naira alongside with the camps they erected on the island for their fishing activities.
NAJUWA as an association of all Jukun people condemned the arrest of the Jukun fishermen on the alleged connection to the attack and raises some issues.
The security details that repelled the attackers lacked arsenal to arrest the attackers but suddenly arrested law-abiding Jukun fishermen who were out for their legitimate business to earn a living.
NAJUWA call on the Inspector General of Police to investigate his men who unprofessionally arrested Jukun fishermen and destroyed their means of livelihood on the order of Governor Samuel Ortom in the interest of justice.
We also demand Governor Ortom should with immediate effect tender an unreserved public apology to the Jukun Wanu people of Benue State for this dastardly act.
We equally demand that the arrested innocent Jukun fishermen that have their properties destroyed and adequately compensated in the interest of peace and justice.
We also want to state in categorical terms that we shall petition the Inspector General of Police and other heads of the security agencies in the country for the roles played by their officers and men to champion Tiv ethic agenda of eliminating the Jukun Wanu in Benue State using the state power.
The problem Jukun Wanu people have with Samuel Ortom as a Governor is the Benue State Chieftaincy Law that he personally signed and completely expunged us out of Benue State and other privileges and benefits that he denied us as citizens of the state.
Governor Ortom in the exercise of raw power and arrogance, seized our only elective councillorship in the Benue State that we magnanimously share with the Hausa Community in Abinsi and gave it to his kinsman from another council ward other than Abinsi.
They also arrogantly told us that the next Chief of Abinsi a Jukun Wanu town with its unique tradition shall be seized and given to the Tiv when the present occupant dies.
History has proven beyond reasonable doubt that we the Jukun Wanu existed in Benue State long, for over 200 years before the Tiv set the feet on the Benue Valley, still the Tiv will not allow us enjoy anything in the state.
We urge Governor Ortom to stop witch-hunting us by unlawfully arresting and detaining our peace-loving people and meet our demands.
Governor Ortom should look for his attackers and settle his problems and leave the Jukun Wanu people alone to enjoy their God given peace and freedom.
