Ortom, Miyetti Allah in war of words over Vigilante group
Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi
The hostility between Governor Samuel Ortom and Socio- Cultural Fulani group, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore over Vigilante group has continued unabated.
This time around Governor Ortom dismissed claims by the Fulani group that their group is embedded in Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and already functional in 36 states in the country as tissue of lies.
The Governor stated clearly that Fulani Vigilante group is not present in Benue and will never under any guise operate in the state.
In a statement signed by Chief Press Secretary ( CPS) to the governor Terver Akase and made available to newsmen in Makurdi on Tuesday ,Governor Ortom state that
the desperation being exhibited by Miyetti Allah to float a security outfit across the country clearly shows that the group has an ulterior motive.
He said “After receiving doses of bashing from Nigerians against its first attempt, the pastoralist organization has decided to hide under the canopy of Vigilante Group of Nigeria to actualize their agenda.
According to the governor; What Miyetti Allah fails to understand is that Vigilante Group of Nigeria also does not have constitutional right to operate in all states of this country. The notion that the group is registered with Corporate Affairs Commission does not vitiate any section of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to confer on it the powers to operate in every state of Nigeria.
Vigilante is a neighborhood arrangement, not a national programme. It is therefore a vain attempt by Miyetti Allah to try to force their security outfit on all states of the federation.
Ortom stated that the vigilante group run by Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore and Vigilante Group of Nigeria can operate in other parts of the country, except Benue State.
“Regarding the letter Miyetti Allah wrote to the Governor claiming that he maligned them in his statement against their plan to operate a security outfit in Benue State, the Governor’s lawyers will respond to the group. We will not be intimidated or distracted by antics and threats of the Fulani socio-cultural organization,” he said.
