A Fulani Nationality Movement (FUNAM), claiming to protect its people’s ethnic interests, has claimed responsibility for what it says was an attempted assassination of Benue State’s Governor Samuel Ortom, who fled under a hail of gunshots while visiting his private farm outside the state capital.
“Our intention is unequivocal: TO KILL HIM. That mission will one day be fulfilled and very soon too,” the novel group said in a statement circulating at the weekend, which called the Christian Governor an “infidel.”
Ortom was attacked on Saturday on his farm at Tyo-mu village along Makurdi-Gboko road.
The governor had fingered the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) as responsible for the attack following his unapologetic anti-open grazing stance.
But in a statement signed by one Umar Amir Shehu, in which Ortom’s name was badly misspelt multiple times, FUNAM claimed that it planned to kill Ortom on Saturday, but its plan suffered a setback due to communication error.
The novel group vowed to assassinate the Governor ultimately, claiming that he stood against Fulani interest.
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The statement said: “Yes. The Fulani Nationality Movement, (FUNAM) carried out the attack. We have genuine reasons. We acted on behalf of millions of Fulani people in 15 countries.
“It’s a case of vengeance against an infidel who has used his time and money, deployed in destroying the Fulani values and inheritance.
“Our courageous fighters carried out this historic attack to send a great message to Ortom and his collaborators: Where ever you are, once you are against Fulani long term interest, we shall get you down. This is a clear warning. We hope those who take us for granted will get the indisputable message.
“Our intention is unequivocal: TO KILL HIM. That mission will one day be fulfilled and very soon too.
“Eleven of FUNAM operatives were involved in the attack. Ortom escaped today because of a slight technical communication error. Next time, he will not be lucky. We can assure him and his supporters,” the alleged statement read in part.
THE WILL
