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Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Friday, refuted claims in some quarters that 70 persons were killed in the ongoing search and rescue operation by the Nigerian Army in Konshisha Local Government Area of the state.
A group known as “Shangev-Tiev Assembly” had earlier addressed a press conference alleging that 70 person were killed and more than 100 houses destroyed by the army.
Alarmed and worried by the figure, Governor Samuel Ortom told newsmen at the Government House, Makurdi, that he was unaware of such number of deaths, insisting that only eight persons lost their lives.
He explained that two bandits who had exchanged fire with the soldiers were caught and killed, adding that other person was a cripple whose house was destroyed and collapsed on him; while another was a middle aged person who was running and the process she fell and died amongst four others.
“That is the report I got from the chairman. So, am taking aback to hear that an unknown group held a press conference and say 70 people were killed. I wish to call on the people to restrain themselves from making unguarded and unverified statement. This will not help matter. You will only succeed in aggravating the matter. You will only succeed in pouring petrol on an existing fire and you know the implications.
“The security men you know especially the soldiers, if they were not here, we will not be here today. Herdsmen, local bandits would have consumed us. Am on top of the situation and monitoring it. I have not slept for the past three days ensuring several interventions.
So, we do not want any situation that will amplify the one we already have. If anyone has any evidence contrary to what the chairman told me, should bring it out instead of making inflammatory statement”, Ortom warned.
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