“Leave Me Alone, Face  Security Challenges  In Benue” –  Fmr. Gov. Ortom Tells  Gov. Alia.

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The immediate past Governor of beleaguered  Benue state, Samuel Ortom, has expressed regret that his successor in office, Hyacinth Alia, has been dissipating energy and time blaming past leaderships of the State instead of concentrating on governance.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Terver Akase, on Sunday, June 22, 2025,

Ortom enjoined the Governor to meaningfully apply himself to the urgent task of addressing the security challenges facing the state, as well as their  attendant mounting humanitarian crisis.

He warned the  embattled Governor Alia that his continued obsession with his name will not lead to the mitigation of the attacks and killings of innocent residents of the state.

The Source reports that Ortom’s reaction comes against the backdrop of Governor Alia’s claim that under his immediate predecessor in office, Benue recorded a whooping four million Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, resulting from countless mindless  attacks .

However, in his statement, Ortom dismissed the claims as not only false, but also a diversionary tactic by the  Governor in the face of his glaring failure to provide leadership to the beleaguered people of Benue state when needed most.

While not denying the existence of IDPs during his tenure, Ortom, however, insisted that the number never exceeded 1.5 million, noting that his adminstration equally worked in concert with reputable organizations to provide succor to the affected people.

“At no time did Chief Ortom claim there were four million IDPs. The adminstration worked with reputable agencies to generate accurate, verifiable data.

“The figure of 1.5 million was officially documented, and is the same figure Governor Alia inherited, accepted and presented to partners.

“From the day he assumed office, Governor Alia and his aides have made it their mission to drag Ortom’s name into every matter ,whether relevant or not. This obsession won’t solve the crisis in the State,” Ortom’s spokesperson noted.

The former Governor lamented the increased level of neglect and complete abandonment of the IDPs by the current adminstration in the State .

According to Ortom, while the IDPs were protesting hunger and neglect, the Executive Secretary of the State emergency management agency, SEMA, was seen attending a lavish wedding in the United Kingdom .

“While IDPs were protesting hunger and neglect ,the Executive Secretary of SEMA was seen attending a lavish wedding in the United kingdom.

“We had expected a press release that would address that shameful act of insensitivity. Instead, what we got was yet another attack on Ortom.

“Mr President gave practical steps to address insecurity in Benue .But rather than act ,Governor Alia keeps spinning excuses –one day blaming foreign mercenaries, the next day, it is Abuja politicians, and now even religious leaders.” Akase noted .

The Source reports that Benue state has been on the spot in the last few months due to a sustained wave of gruesome attacks and killings by suspected killer herdsmen .

The mindless attacks which climaxed with the genocidal attack on the Yelewata community last week, have left hundreds murdered and several thousands rendered homeless.