Buhari: I’m sad Ortom is blaming me for Benue killings  

 President Muhammadu Buhari says he is sad that Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, could blame him for the attacks on people  in the state.

Following a series of killings in the state by gunmen, Samuel Ortom, The governor had called on the Federal Government to intervene urgently to stem the tide of insecurity in the state and the country as a whole.

The governor also said that the President took an oath to protect all Nigerians and not the Fulani alone, accusing the President of shielding the criminal elements among the Fulani .

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However, in a statement on Thursday, presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu,  said Buhari is pained by the killings, but sad that the governor blamed the attacks on him as the president.

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The statement reads: “He also states his disappointment and sadness to hear Samuel Ortom, the Governor of Benue State, make a litany of accusations against his person and his government following the recent unfortunate incidents in the state.

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“No responsible government takes pleasure in such events as the killing of the military and that of innocent citizens taking refuge in an Internally Displaced People’s camp.

“President Buhari is deeply pained by the terrible acts of violence happening not only in Benue State but also in other parts of the country and expects that the law enforcement agencies will go to every possible extent to catch the perpetrators of these heinous acts and bring them to justice.

“The lives of fellow citizens should not be desecrated by deploying them in political diatribe which unfortunately appeared to be the intent of the string of emotional attacks and blame laid at the doors of the President for those killings by Governor Ortom.

“President Buhari took an oath to defend the life and property of every citizen, a duty he takes seriously and is committed to ensuring.

“Those citizens, regardless of their affiliations, who either incite, sponsor or are proven to be abettors of these atrocities will face the law squarely and be answerable for their crimes against our fellow citizens and nation.”