Gov. Ortom Of Benue Reacts To Plans By President Buhari To Withdraw Troops

Ortom Appeals For Extension Of Time For Military Action

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has launched a passionate appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to delay the planned withdrawal of military troops from some sections of the country.

According to the governor, the delay will allow people living at the Internally Displaced Persons’ camps to resettle in their ancestral homes before the military withdrawal.

It will be recalled as previously reported by Naija News that the Buhari-led Federal Government of Nigeria has revealed it will next year commence the gradual withdrawal of military operations in some volatile spots in the country.

The decision was taken during Monday’s Security Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, said the withdrawal of troops will be done after an “assessment” to determine areas where peace has returned to enable civil authorities to assume full control.

He said the security council decided that in place of the military, the Nigeria Police Force will assume its duties fully in such areas.

The Governor of Benue State, Dr Samuel Ortom, has cried out over Federal Government’s decision to withdraw the military from combatting insurgents and other internal uprisings.

However, reacting to the development through Terve Akase, his Chief Press Secretary who spoke to State House Correspondents, Gov. Ortom urged the President not to withdraw troops code-named Operation Whirl Stroke deployed in the state.

He noted that the troops fighting insurgents and other internal uprisings carried out by alleged herdsmen in Benue State have been largely successful since the commencement of Operation Whirl Stroke in the state in 2018 and urged they be given time to complete the assignment.

Ortom said, “Our position is an appeal to Mr President. He had done Benue well by deploying Operation Whirl Stroke to help tame the menace of herdsmen at the time Benue needed intervention.

“We appeal to the President to extend the life-span of the troops at least by a year to enable our people at the IDPs camps to resettle in their ancestral homes.”