Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has condemned the attempt by some assailants to assassinate the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom.

That gunmen opened fire on Ortom’s convoy on Saturday on Makurdi-Gboko Road in Benue but the security details attached to the governor resisted the attack.

Reacting in a statement, the PDP urged the Presiden Muhammadu Buhari to order security agencies to immediately arrest the assailants and prosecute them.

The party’s statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, was titled, ‘PDP Condemns Attempt On Gov. Ortom’s Life…Demands Arrest, Prosecution of Assailants’.

It read, “The Peoples Democratic Party vehemently condemns Saturday’s reckless attack and assassination attempt on Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state by suspected bandits, reported to be killer herdsmen.

“The party calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to put machinery in motion by ordering an immediate manhunt, arrest and prosecution of the assailants and beef up security around the governor.

“The PDP expresses shock that the assailants trailed Governor Ortom and opened fire on him and his aides along Makurdi/Gboko road, in an attack that by every indication is aimed to assassinate the governor.

“Our party is worried that this brazen attempt at Governor Ortom’s life is coming on the heels of his outspokenness in exposing those allegedly behind the incessant attacks of communities in the state and demanding that the Federal Government to live up to its responsibility on the protection of life and property in the state.

“The PDP fears for the life of Governor Ortom and we urge Nigerians to hold the All Progressives Congress-led administration responsible over its failure to take a decisive step to check the escalated insecurity and brazen attacks on innocent Nigerians.

“The PDP however calls on Governor Ortom not to be deterred by the attack but to remain courageous and at alert, at all times while providing leadership to the people of his state.

“The party also calls on the people of Benue State to be calm and vigilant while providing useful information to security agencies to flush bandits and criminal elements out of the state and other parts of the country.”

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