The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has claimed that between 2017 and this year, no fewer than 5,000 farmers including women and children have been murdered by armed herdsmen in the state.
The governor also claimed that the state, which prides itself as food basket of Nigeria is losing the status because of the attacks.
He said very soon, Nigerians will start feeling the pains of keeping over 1.5 million farmers at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.
The governor who made this known yesterday during an interview on TVC programme Journalists Hangout which was monitored by Africa Today News, New York also decried that the continued attacks on the farming population in the State has stalled agriculture growth and development.
According to him, ‘over 80 percent population in the camps are peasant farmers who contribute immensely to the growth of the State economy, saying their continue staying in the camps has pose a threat to food security in the country even as he disclosed that those who attempt to go back during farming season to farm are being killed in the process.’
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While commenting on the aftermath of the emergence of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate and the choice of the vice president, the governor insisted that the River State Governor Nyesom Wike should have been placated.
He said, ‘With all fairness, Governor Wike is the pillar of PDP in all ramifications, after everything, they ought to have reach out to Wike, for me I spoke with the National leadership of the party and the candidate of our party and I think plans are underway to reach out to him, the only thing is that it is taking a longer time and our people said “if you allow water to stay long in your mouth it turns to saliva, so the earlier, the better‘ Ortom added.
The governor who was also optimistic that PDP will take over power in Nigeria come 2023, also said “Nigerians are in distress under the evil government of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and they have cried out to God and as the God of justice he will hear our prayers by kicking out the APC with their evil agenda”
Ortom maintained that despite the security challenges bedeviling the State, “we are able to expand our infrastructure especially at the rural level to boost the economy of the State through opening and taring of feeder roads to enable farmers transport their produce to the nearest market.
On the issue of salary, the Governor pointed out that from 2018 to date he is owing Benue workers Two months salaries which he intends to pay soon, adding that aside paying the highest wage bill after Lagos and River States, the economy of the State which was being driven by the peasant farmers has been crippled by the continues attacks on Markets and Farmers.