Benue has no land for implementation of NLTP — Ortom

By Titus Atondu, Makurdi

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom,  has said that the state would not cede one inc of Benue land for the implementation of the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP).

The Governor also noted that on Monday, herdsmen engaged the police and personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in a shootout close to the bank of the River Benue in Makurdi.

Ortom made the disclosure on Wednesday while addressing stakeholders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from Kwande and Ushongo Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state at Government house Makurdi.

He explained that during the shootout that ensued between the herdsmen, they shot to death a personnel of the NSCDC and a member of the Livestock Guards.

The Governor further explained that the herdsmen who came in their numbers were on the verge of overpowering the security agents posted to area, until a reinforcement of the Army came and salvaged the situation.

He revealed that the herdsmen had succeeded in carting away eight motorcycles belonging to members of the livestock guards.

Ortom  advised the people of the area and indeed the state to be security conscious, insisted that the herders were in Benue to take over their land.