Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has called on Muslims in the country to pray against the unabating security challenges in the country, saying the deteriorating situation demands divine intervention.
The Governor said it is an understatement to submit that the nation is overwhelmed by the security challenges and sighted the recent terrorists attack on Kuje prison and the attack on President Muhammadu Buhari’s convoy as a national embarrassment.”
Ortom, in his goodwill message to Nigerians on this year’s Eid Kabir celebration, also urged the citizens to cooperate with security operatives in order to get rid of the security menace ravaging the nation.
He lamented that his ceaseless calls on the federal government to rise up to its responsibility by providing security for the citizens have fell on deaf ears over the years.
He said, “The successful invasion of the Kuje Prison, right in the heart of the nation’s capital, Abuja, by terrorists during which scores of inmates escaped unarguably vindicates my clarion calls on the federal government to wake up to its responsibilities and address the security threats gradually tearing the nation apart.
“They have in more than equal proportion ignored my calls. As it is right now, we are all endangered in this country and there is no hiding place for anyone. Everywhere, everyone is under attack. If the President’s convoy can be easily attacked by terrorists just the way i was attacked on my farm, then no where, no one is safe.”
Governor Ortom however expressed optimism that hope is not lost if all hands can be on deck to honestly address the challenges.
Governor Ortom went further, “I want to restate my call for the convocation of a national security summit where all stakeholders will be present to brainstorm and find lasting solutions to this insurgency tearing our nation apart. We cannot continue to live in perpetual fear in our fatherland.”
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur Ortom urged all Muslim faithful to use the occasion of Eld el-Kabir to pray for Nigeria in distress just as he called for religious harmony between and among various religious denominations and groups in the country.