Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has said that he once disarmed some robbers carrying seven AK 47 without anything.
The governor made this known on Tuesday when speaking with State House correspondent at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He was at the Villa to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for his condolence visit to Benue State recently over the spate of killings.
Ortom who spoke on the call by former Chief of Army Staff, Theophilus Danjuma, on Nigerians to defend themselves against attacks in view of the alleged compromise of the Nigerian Army, said Danjuma did not call on anyone to carry arms.
Describing self-preservation as the first law of nature, he said anyone could defend himself without necessarily carrying arms.
“Some years ago, I was able to disarm armed robbers with seven AK 47 without anything. I think that is the kind of thing he is trying to say. Nigerians should rise up to do this,” Ortom said.
Ortom said he believed Danjuma was misunderstood.
His words: “It is a misrepresentation of what the former minister said.
“He did not tell anybody to take up arms. He only said that people should protect themselves.
“Of course, you know that self-preservation is the first law of nature.
“You can’t just wait in your house and allow someone to come and kill you. You can resist the person, but you don’t necessarily need to have arms. I think that that was what the minister was saying.
“There is need for people to rise to defend themselves not necessarily using weapons that are banned. You can use a stick and disarm someone…
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“Security matters are not just left in the hands of security men, it requires every one of us to put our heads together and be courageous to be able to surmount it.’’
The governor denied having a strained relationship with President Buhari and his government over the killings in Benue.
He however said that his relationship with some security heads was not very cordial, particularly in view of the state of insecurity.
“Benue people first before any other thing. I have not had any strained relationship with the federal government.
“I had strained relationship with security agencies’ head not even with security agencies and that was the point I was making.
“But all I was saying is trying to add value to the security of the nation by bringing my suggestions as a former local government chairman, former minister and now current serving governor.
“I think I have something to add to the security architecture of this country that can add value and help us to do better than we are doing.
“There is always room for improvement in any setting or organisation by buying from one person to the other because nobody has monopoly of knowledge.
“And people must be willing to accept pieces of advice especially superior opinions that can help shape and add value to the development of our system.’’
The governor also disclosed that he had met with the president over the plight of 175,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs ) in the eight camps created on the state ravaged by herders’ menace.
The governor said that the IDPs “have expressed their desire to go back home.’’
The governor stated that Buhari was very passionate about the plight of the IDPs and had assured him that federal government would swing into action to ensure their full rehabilitation.
