Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore have engaged in exchange of words over Saturday attack on the convoy of the governor by gunmen along Tyomu community in Makurdi local government area of Benue State.
Ortom had alleged that the attack was carried out by Fulani herdsmen, an allegations that did not go well with the Miyetti Allah.
The organization said the governor was lying, also dismised the allegation of its involvement in the attack.
The National President of the group, Abdullahi Bello Bodejo, said Ortom harboured malice against the group after they sued him over the controversial anti-grazing law he enacted in Benue.
He said: “There was nothing secret about the conference we held in Yola. We called for unity and sensitised Fulani on the need for peaceful coexistence with other people. Ortom lied, we don’t know anything about the said attack.
“Ortom hates Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore ever since we took him to court. We are still in court with him. If he claims we said something in Yola; yes, we called on him to review the law because Fulani are losing their cattle.”
“Journalists (in Yola) asked me about the Benue anti-grazing law; I explained that the law was discriminatory. The Fulani are being fined unjustly. We advised him to review the law because the Fulani are forced to sell their cows to pay fine.”
