Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has condemned Saturday’s attack and assassination attempt on Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.
Atiku in a Twitter post on Sunday evening where he reacted to the attack on Ortom, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently rejig the country’s security set up.
He also added that state governments should be allowed to control the security architecture in their respective domains.
It will be recalled that Governor 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.
Reacting to the attack, Atiku called for a thorough investigation of the matter, adding that it was a worrisome development.
He said: “The reported attack on Gov Samuel Ortom is worrisome and stands condemned.
“I hereby call for a thorough investigation into the matter and restate the need for a rejig of the nation’s security architecture and a constitutional framework that empowers the states to control their internal security.”
The reported attack on Gov Samuel Ortom is worrisome and stands condemned.
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) March 21, 2021
Meanwhile, a Fulani group has claimed responsibility for the recent attack on Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom which took place on Saturday, March 20.
The group, identified as Fulani Nationality Movement (FUNAM) claimed in a press statement that its intention was to kill Governor Ortom on Saturday but a slight communication error in its plan saved the Governor’s life.
On why it wants Ortom dead, FUNAM in a statement signed by Umar Amir Shehu said Ortom stands against Fulani interests in Nigeria and opposes open ranching of animals.
The group however further threatened that its fighters are still all out to get Ortom and they would ultimately kill the Benue State Governor.