A former Senate President, David Mark, has condemned the attack on Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue state, by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
Naija News had reported that Ortom confirmed that he almost lost his life during an attack on Saturday by some gunmen he described as herdsmen.
The Governor who spoke with newsmen after the incident, narrated that the gunmen, numbering about 15, trailed him and his team to a riverbank when he was on foot before launching the attack.
Ortom’s convoy was attacked along Makurdi/Gboko road in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue but his security team repelled the attack and whisked the Governor to safety.
Reacting in a statement through Paul Mumeh, his media aide, Mark warned that citizens may have to resort to self-help if security agents can’t protect them.
He said: “If a state governor can be so brazenly attacked, what would they not do to the ordinary citizens,” he said.
“Let me state clearly that Benue people are receptive and accommodating. But this should not be misconstrued or mistaken for weakness. Enough of this malady.
“If our government and security operatives can no longer guarantee peoples’ safety in their homes, farms or places of business, I am worried that the situation may compel citizens to resort to self help.
“That is the situation, we cannot contemplate and must not be allowed to happen because the consequences would be catastrophic.
“Therefore, federal government and all the security agencies must of a necessity come to terms with the painful reality of the unabating insecurity in the land and resolve to end it.”
Mark also advised all citizens to be security conscious at all times and to provide information regarding any suspected activity to security operatives.