Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has accused his successor, Governor Hyacinth Alia, of deliberately hiding mass burials in the state to create a misleading perception of peace under his leadership.
Ortom made this assertion on Monday in reaction to Alia’s comments at NKST Church, Ikpayongo, where the governor claimed that killings by armed herders had ceased since he took office.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Terver Akase, Ortom refuted Alia’s claims, insisting that mass burials were still occurring in several violence-prone areas, including Ukum, Logo, Katsina-Ala, Gwer East, and Agatu.
“This administration is merely trying to cover up the ongoing killings and mass burials,” Ortom alleged.
Defending his own tenure, Ortom highlighted his enforcement of anti-open grazing policies and his firm stance against herdsmen attacks, despite opposition from the federal government.
He also criticized Alia for focusing on discrediting his administration rather than delivering on his campaign promises.
“A governor’s time in office is temporary. One day, Alia, too, will become a former governor. He should prioritize governance instead of attacking his predecessor,” Ortom remarked.
