The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has laughed off the charges allegedly pressed against him by the Fulani pastoralist group, the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, saying he would be glad to meet them at the International Criminal Court in Geneva, Switzerland.
Ortom while reacting to threats credited to the Fulani group whose members have reportedly continued to wreck incalculable havoc on Benue communities, said it was laughable that a murderous group such as the Myetti Allah would contemplate exposing their murderous tendencies at the international court.
Recall that the Secretary-General of the Miyetti Allah, Alhaji Saleh Alhasssn, said they have approached the ICC to file a complaint against Governor Ortom for allegedly seizing over 25,000 cows belonging to his members and detaining over 4,000 herders.
In his reaction, Governor Ortom reiterated his readiness to meet them in court saying: “Tell Miyetti Allah and all its leadership that I am ready to meet them in court, anywhere”.
He further explained that as the Governor of Benue state, he was implementing a law duly passed by the legislature and signed into law.
He stated that the law was enacted in good faith and it remains a “a win-win for the herders and farmers. Unfortunately, what we see is that the terrorists come with the sole intention to take over our ancestral lands and not to graze.”
The Governor also maintained that the passage of the law was part of measures to end the incessant invasion by the armed Fulani herdsmen and halt herders from attacking and killing farmers in the state.
While stressing that the “implementation of the law banning open grazing of cattle in the state is irrevocable”, the governor advised Miyetti Allah and their collaborators to be ready for a long legal battle.
In his words: “Let those who are threatening to take me to court understand that every law is meant to be obeyed.
“For the avoidance of doubts, Benue people agreed for the law to be implemented. We are therefore enforcing the law.
“And anybody willing to do business in the state must abide by the law. I have done what is right and legitimate to protect my people from further killings. That is what constitutional democracy demands,” he said.
Ortom insisted that “instead of Miyetti Allah directing their members who wish to live and do business in Benue State to abide by the law, they have continued to sponsor acts of terror against Benue people, killing and destroying properties worth billions of naira.
“As we speak, there are over two million of our Benue people living as refugees in IDP camps.”
Besides dismissing the threat by Miyetti Allah to drag him to the ICC, Ortom equally dismissed claims that officials of the Benue State Livestock Guards arrests cattle from neighbouring states.
He declared: “It is laughable to say that Benue State officials of the Livestock Guards go into Taraba or Nasarawa States to impound cattle.
“We know the boundaries between Benue and other states. As such, our officials do not go outside of the state boundaries to make any arrests of herds of cattle that violate our laws,” he insisted.
The Governor further confirmed: “We have documented evidence of threats and actual killings by Fulani terrorist groups who have been sponsored by Miyetti Allah to carry out violence against communities in the state.
“The State Government has also compiled the atrocities of Fulani terrorists against Benue people and we are also demanding compensation from the Federal Government for the atrocious activities of Fulani terrorists in Benue State which have led to the killing of over 5,000 of my people, sacking of various communities, destruction of property worth billions of Naira and displacement of over two million people by these herdsmen.
“Make no mistake about this, I will continue to defend my people from this premeditated annihilation. The law is made to be obeyed. Ther will be no compromise.”
