I’m Defending My People, Not A Drowning Man –Ortom

Samuel Ortom, Benue state governor, says Idris Kpotun,
the inspector general of police (IGP), is a drowning man who has no
business heading the police force.

The governor said this in reaction to Jimoh Moshood, public
relations officer of the Nigeria Police Force, who had earlier
described him with the same ‘drowning man’ phrase.

The back and forth was prompted by Idris’ criticism of the
anti-grazing law and his call for its suspension until ranches were
put in place.

The IGP had said the law worsened the violence between farmers
and herdsmen, but Ortom had asked him to resign if he was
overwhelmed.

Speaking during a radio programme on Tuesday, Ortom said: “It is
the IGP that has failed to do the right thing that should be called
a drowning man, it is the IGP that should resign.

“I am not a drowning man; I am doing what I was elected to do.
Over 99 percent of Benue people are with me, I’m acting their
script, so nobody should try to intimidate me.

“The IGP should resign because he has failed woefully. He
doesn’t have the capacity. There are many good police officers who
can take over that job and perform creditably by turning around the
security architecture of this country and make things work and
protect lives and property. That man has no business being the
IGP.”

The governor also urged the people of his state to “defend
themselves lawfully” if the police cannot guarantee the security of
their lives and properties.

He described the IGP “as the mouthpiece of Miyetti Allah Kautal
Hore”, urging him to “resign his current position to serve full
time in his new job”.

Ortom denied the police’s claim that the arrested militia
members in his state are members of Benue Livestock Guards.

“Those people are not members of our Livestock Guard. It is just
a planned thing,” he said.

“Fulani militia have come out in video to display the kind of
weapons that they have and everyone has seen it; that is also not
enough for the IGP to arrest these people.

“But he chose to declare that we have militia in Benue state. If
we have militia in the state, will the herdsmen come and kill our
people the way they did and are currently doing?

“It is because we are law-abiding. I think the people should
have the right to defend themselves and not make themselves easy
prey to be killed in their homes.

“So any lawful means you can adopt to defend yourself in Benue
State, just go ahead. We are not going to wait for the
inspector-general of police to do it because he has failed in his
assignment.”

Samuel Ortom, Benue state governor, says Idris Kpotun,
the inspector general of police (IGP), is a drowning man who has no
business heading the police force.

The governor said this in reaction to Jimoh Moshood, public
relations officer of the Nigeria Police Force, who had earlier
described him with the same ‘drowning man’ phrase.

The back and forth was prompted by Idris’ criticism of the
anti-grazing law and his call for its suspension until ranches were
put in place.

The IGP had said the law worsened the violence between farmers
and herdsmen, but Ortom had asked him to resign if he was
overwhelmed.

Speaking during a radio programme on Tuesday, Ortom said: “It is
the IGP that has failed to do the right thing that should be called
a drowning man, it is the IGP that should resign.

“I am not a drowning man; I am doing what I was elected to do.
Over 99 percent of Benue people are with me, I’m acting their
script, so nobody should try to intimidate me.

“The IGP should resign because he has failed woefully. He
doesn’t have the capacity. There are many good police officers who
can take over that job and perform creditably by turning around the
security architecture of this country and make things work and
protect lives and property. That man has no business being the
IGP.”

The governor also urged the people of his state to “defend
themselves lawfully” if the police cannot guarantee the security of
their lives and properties.

He described the IGP “as the mouthpiece of Miyetti Allah Kautal
Hore”, urging him to “resign his current position to serve full
time in his new job”.

Ortom denied the police’s claim that the arrested militia
members in his state are members of Benue Livestock Guards.

“Those people are not members of our Livestock Guard. It is just
a planned thing,” he said.

“Fulani militia have come out in video to display the kind of
weapons that they have and everyone has seen it; that is also not
enough for the IGP to arrest these people.

“But he chose to declare that we have militia in Benue state. If
we have militia in the state, will the herdsmen come and kill our
people the way they did and are currently doing?

“It is because we are law-abiding. I think the people should
have the right to defend themselves and not make themselves easy
prey to be killed in their homes.

“So any lawful means you can adopt to defend yourself in Benue
State, just go ahead. We are not going to wait for the
inspector-general of police to do it because he has failed in his
assignment.”