Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Wednesday asked the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to give detailed account of the $ 1 billion special security funds jointly put together by the 36 States of the federation and the central federal government to fight terrorism and other criminals in the country.
Governor Ortom, in a statement by his Spokesperson, Nathaniel Ikyur, wondered what the federal government under President Buhari and the direct command of the National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs and other heads of security agencies had done with the money such that insecurity has continued to escalate in the country.
The Governor therefore mandated his deputy, Engineer Benson Abounu, who represented him at a virtual meeting of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) to seek clarifications on the matter.
According to the Governor, “what have they done with the one billion dollars the Governors Forum gave on behalf of the local governments for security? That money is huge. What have they done with the money that terrorists will kidnap citizens without any rescue mission?
“It is even more worrisome and unthinkable that terrorists will threaten to kidnap our President. If that happens, that means we have no country again.
“The primary responsibility of any responsive government is to ensure the safety of lives and property but the situation whereby innocent Nigerians are left at the mercy of vicious terrorists is unacceptable. We must not allow this to continue,” Ortom stated.
He decried the situation where Nigeria as the giant of Africa has become helpless to tackle its security challenges, pointing out how very painful it had become to see the country where it is today.
The Governor, however, affirmed that security issues should be the concern of all, emphasising that it should not be tailored along political lines as the protection of lives and property of citizens ought to be prioritized.
Ortom further commended the sacrifices of security operatives in the State as he also acknowledged the challenges security officers in the State face in the discharge of their duties.