Eighteen out of Benue’s 23 local government areas are under the siege of killer Fulani herdsmen, Governor Samuel Ortom alleges, claiming the herders are on a killing spree every day.

Mr Ortom made the claims on Friday during an interview with ARISE TV.

“Now they are on a killing spree. Every day we have reports of killings and so on,” Mr Ortom said while shedding light on the killings of over 45 persons in some communities in the state.

The Benue governor, in the interview, lamented how insecurity had displaced over two million people in the state and disrupted agricultural activities.

“As I talk to you, 18 local governments out of the 23 local governments we have in Benue state today are under siege by these terrorists Fulani herdsmen,” Mr Ortom stated. 

The governor pointed out that “since the PDP lost (the March 18 governorship) election and I lost my senatorial bid, Fulani herdsmen have now taken over the state.”

“The report you heard from Umogidi is just one of them. In my own village and other parts of the state, like I said, 18 local governments are under siege. Killings have been going on every day,” Mr Ortom, a former APC governor, stated. “They feed on people’s farms, and they said they have taken over (and) that they will repeal the anti-grazing law.” 

On Monday evening, suspected herdsmen attacked Benue communities, killing at least 45 locals.

“Our people have become victims of unprovoked attacks from the Fulani herdsmen in recent times. The unprovoked attacks started with attacks on Ikobi in Apa, where not less than 15 people were inhumanly butchered to death,” said Ada Ocholi, a resident. 

Mr Ocholi explained that in Oiji, Apa, “three persons were butchered to death,” and in Edikwu, two people.

He added, “In Inyapu seven, in Akpanta three; in Ugbobi four, including their chief, Chief Adanu; in Akpete, one person was killed, and two ladies were raped. In Atakpa, Agatu, eight persons were butchered to death. Apart from these deaths, uncounted numbers were wounded.”