*People surrounding Buhari are criminals, he insists

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Monday, said rising insecurity situation in the country has reached its peak, with the threat by bandits to kidnap the President Muhammadu Buhari.

He added that there is no government in the country and “those surrounding the presidents are criminals”, selfish and dangerous people.

Ortom, who was reacting to a video trending on social media where bandits were flogging Kaduna-bound train attack victims and their further threat to kidnap the President and the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, said “Nigerians are now exposed to Afghanistan treatment”.

Briefing journalists at the new Banquet Hall of the Government House, Makurdi, Ortom also decried the insecurity situation in the country, saying that “Buhari’s regime had left Nigerians digging their graves”.

He stated: “Things are getting worse in Nigeria. You know I said this before I travelled out that, very soon, with the manner the bandits are operating without proactive steps from the federal government, they will soon enter Aso Rock.

“You have seen happenings in the country; the Kuje prison break and the threat to kidnap the President, God forbid, but this is what I saw long time ago.

“Those people in Afghanistan, who are bandits and Fulanis, are the ones (wreaking havoc). They are being sponsored. 

“I feel pained that this is happening in my generation. There is no government in Nigeria today. Those who are surrounding the president are criminals.

“Mr president, if you are listening to me, I want to say that you are not doing well; you have violated the Oath of Office you took; Nigerians are in pains; they are suffering; the socio economic lives of the people have gone down the abyss.

“You have left us digging our graves. We need a true change, not the change from top to bottom you promised us in 2015″.

The governor who explained the reasons he visited United Kingdom and United States of America during his two weeks vacation, said it was to correct all the wrong narratives of federal government that the herders attacks on Benue State transcends climate change, but occupation.

He further said that he called for the release of Nnamidi Kanu because he had committed no offense.

“I decided to visit the United Kingdom and United States of America to correct the wrong narratives that the crisis in Benue State was caused by climate change and they were supprised to learn that the attacks were beyond what they had fed them with.

“Even during the rainy season, the Fulani herders come to our communities kill, maim, rape our women, even our men. 

“These Fulani come from Niger, Senegal, Mauritania and other places.

“They only used that (animal husbandry) to shield their main reason for attacks, which is occupation of our lands.

“I also called for the release of Nnamidi Kanu and Sunday Igboho, who are freedom fighters while they give amnesty to bandits. 

“I do this (call for release of freedom fighters) because if later I become freedom fighter for my people they should not disturb me”, Ortom said.