Benue State Government has stated that the Fulani vigilante group is not present in Benue and will not, under any guise, operate in the state.
Governor Samuel Ortom stated this in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase and made available to newsmen in Makurdi.
The Governor stated that “We read another tissue of lies from the Fulani socio-cultural organization, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, which claimed that its vigilante outfit is embedded in the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, VGN and is already functional in 36 states of the country.
“We state once again that the Fulani vigilante group is not present in Benue and will NOT, under any guise operate in the state.”
Ortom said the desperation being exhibited by Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore to float a security outfit across the country clearly shows that the group has an ulterior motive.
“After receiving doses of bashing from Nigerians against its first attempt, the pastoralist organization has decided to hide under the canopy of Vigilante Group of Nigeria to actualize their agenda.
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“What Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore fails to understand is that Vigilante Group of Nigeria also does not have constitutional right to operate in all states of this country.
“The notion that the group is registered with Corporate Affairs Commission does not vitiate any section of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to confer on it the powers to operate in every state of Nigeria.”
He said Vigilante is a neighborhood arrangement, not a national programme, pointing out that “It is therefore a vain attempt by Miyetti Allah to try to force their security outfit on all states of the federation.
Governor Ortom maintened that the vigilante group run by Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore and Vigilante Group of Nigeria can operate in other parts of the country, except Benue State.
He further said that his lawyers will reply the letter Miyetti Allah wrote to him, (Governor) claiming that he maligned them in his statement against their plan to operate a security outfit in Benue State.
“We will not be intimidated or distracted by antics and threats of the Fulani socio-cultural organization,” Ortom said.
