I’ll never shield my aides facing criminal charges – Gov Ortom

Governor Samuel Ortom, in this exclusive interview with Daily Trust, speaks on the lingering crisis in Benue as well as the recent arrest of his aide allegedly in connection with the killings in the state. Excerpts:

You recently cut short your holiday visit to China following attacks on some communities in Benue. What did you find when you returned home?

The situation was getting worse and I needed to come back and join forces with the deputy governor and other stakeholders to ensure that we minimized the rate of attack that was going on. I met a very devastating situation but thank God it is under control and the response from the Federal Government is also encouraging. We appreciate the efforts that have been stepped up.

There is already a combined team of the security forces in the state; a team from the Defence headquarters has been here for over one week. The Chief of Army Staff himself is here and was out there in the field. He has given specific directives to the security agencies to make sure that they get rid of the mercenaries.

You are aware that Mr. President has said it is not just herdsmen; it is about mercenaries trained by the late Gaddafi. I believe completely that they will be able to eliminate this challenge so that people can go back to their homes. We have a law in place and it is not meant to send herdsmen away from our land it just meant to regulate them so that farmers and herders can live together. I believe that this operation that the joint security operatives of the Nigerian security forces are putting together will definitely provide succour to our people.

There was the exercise called ‘Ayem Akpatema’ that didn’t seem to have successfully addressed the situation in Benue. How confident are you that this new joint operation will succeed?

This one is an operation and, of course, it is a response to Mr. President’s acceptance of our appeal when he came visiting. We did appeal that we wanted the exercise to be upgraded to an operation and I think this is a welcome development because this one is specifically targeting these mercenaries who are the actual problem. Of course you know that like Mr. President has been saying, the herdsmen carry sticks not arms; anybody carrying arms is not friendly and must have some ulterior motive.

You also appreciate the fact that policemen who went there to confront these people were killed several times including vigilante group members. But with this one coming up I believe it will bring succour.

The military recently paraded some suspected herdsmen that were arrested over alleged involvement in the attacks in Benue. Does this give you some confidence?

This is what we have been calling for. All that we have been saying is that these people are not ghosts; they are human beings and we have always said security men should arrest them. This is because for us our faith is in the security apparatus; we do not want to take laws into our hands. We have always waited for the law to take its course so we kept calling that these people should not be seen as being above the law. Once they are apprehended they too would know that look they would be sanctioned and that is the right way to go.

So the arrest is a welcome development; it is appreciated and since they are all over the place it is our hope that security men will intensify their efforts in apprehending all of them.

Two recent incidents in Benue have given many people cause for concern over the dimension the herders/farmers crisis may have assumed. The attack on Mbalom community which left two priests killed and the military attack on Naka town over the alleged killing of a soldier. What is your reaction

to these, more so that the killing of the priests has been given religious coloration?

All the attacks are unfortunate and I don’t want to run into conclusions as to whether they were religious or not. Let the relevant investigations be carried out so that when the facts are available then conclusions can be made. The one in Naka is unfortunate; a soldier was killed and what we did was to react promptly through the council chairman and the traditional ruler to apprehend the suspects and bring them to the 72 Battalion headquarters.

It is unfortunate we were told that soldiers invaded the town and in the course of it an elderly man was burnt in one of the houses and another young man who had just graduated died in an accident while trying to escape. Several houses were burnt and I reported this to the Chief of Army Staff who assured me that investigations would be carried out. We are still waiting for the outcome. Situations like this have to be managed with care otherwise in trying to solve a problem we run into more troubles.

We had a hell of trouble trying to quell the killings in Mbalom where two reverend fathers were killed; it became a very emotional matter. But thank God we were able to control it.

One thing I keep telling my people is that two wrongs can never make a right. People should as much as possible restrain themselves because in the course of trying to justify some of these things yourselves you will land yourself into bigger trouble.

I have given directive that no one should be spared because an offence is an offence. If you commit a crime in trying to justify a wrong that was done that does not give you the right to do it; you will also be apprehended. People are taking advantage because of the overwhelming nature of the security situation in the country today. Where we have inadequate security men it becomes difficult for them to be everywhere but people should respect themselves and allow the law to take its course.

Sometime ago you called for self-defence among the people of Benue; a statement that was given different interpretations. What did you actually mean when you made that statement?

People can decide to interpret and create meanings to suit their purpose but it is said that self defence is the first law of nature. So I asked people to defend themselves and I was specifically clear about what I was saying because I knew the implications. I said use every lawful means; you can use your hands. As I am seated here, sometime ago I was able to disarm four armed robbers who came to attack me even with their arms. I arrested them and handed them over to the police without any weapon.

So the point I am making is that instead of just running away to IDP camps you must stay around and defend yourself. The security men are there to give you cover. But if you run away and leave your community they cannot protect you. I am a law abiding man and cannot call on people to be lawless because lawlessness breeds anarchy. So those who misconstrued the statement never got me right because all I am saying is people should use lawful means to defend themselves. That doesn’t mean that if you come to attack me and I have a stick I cannot hit you back. I don’t think that is an offence.

So these are areas we can explore given the situation we found ourselves instead of crying all over the place. It is true that when I came in, illegal weapons owners were disarmed and now the Inspector General of Police has directed that they should mop up weapons.

One of your aides was recently arrested and is currently in military detention over alleged connection with Boko Haram and the Benue killings. How do you feel with this development?

Like I have always said I am a believer in the rule of law. I have told all my aides that as public officers they have to be very careful. I have made this as a code of conduct to all of them and I have always said if you are apprehended, respond to those allegations against you. In the past I have demonstrated this when some of my aides were accused of murder or other criminal matters, I told them to resign.

I have always allowed the law to take its course so the arrest of the leader of the Livestock Guards let the law take its course; let the security men do the needed investigation. If he is found culpable he will answer to it but let justice be done. Let it not just be blackmail or intimidation or a way of trying to implicate him. If he is found culpable the evidence will be there.

The allegations against him are very grievous and I am waiting for the outcome. Here is a man that I inherited and from history I was told that he was brought here by the security agencies to help man security support between Benue and Nasarawa states. But when I came I set up the Livestock Guards and we decided that you come and head it because you are familiar with the Fulani men. By the way some Fulani men are also members of this Livestock Guards. So I have nothing to hide and I can never shield anyone with criminal intent. So let justice be done.

What is the update on Terwase Akwaza, aka Ghana?

Well Ghana is being hunted by security agencies. So far he has not been apprehended but we are looking forward that one of these days he would be caught. All the security agencies are working together in this regard. The last time in the Security Council we increased the amount for rewarding anyone who would find him from N20 million to N50 million.

He is undertaking a lot of criminal activities in the Katsina Ala axis and Ukum. All the destruction that are going on; all the kidnappings, armed robbery are coordinated by this same Ghana. So he is still on our wanted list.