Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom on Monday said his Bauchi State counterpart Bala Mohammed owes Nigerians an apology for his comments that herdsmen should be allowed to carry AK-47 rifles.
Ortom stated this in Makurdi while briefing journalists on the state of insecurity in Benue.
His comments followed Mohammed’s clarification last week that his statement about herdsmen being free to carry AK-47 rifles was a figure of speech.
Ortom said the Benue people were fighting against terrorists, killer herdsmen and criminality, not against any Fulani as some Nigerians believe.
“We are not against any tribe, especially the Fulani people, but rather against terrorists, killer herdsmen, bandits, kidnappers and all types of criminals within the state.
“We are actively supporting our security agencies to ensure that all remaining pockets of banditry, kidnappings among others are mitigated,” he said.
Ortom insisted that ranching remained the only solution to the lingering herdsmen crisis.
He, however, commended President Mohammadu Buhari for deploying security forces to handle the state’s security challenges.
