Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom on Thursday commiserated with Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, his Sokoto State counterpart, over a reported attack on Goronyo and Illela local government areas of the state where over 43 persons were killed.
A statement issued and made available to newsmen by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikjur, said the attack occurred between Sunday and Monday this week by armed men suspected to be bandits.
Mr. Nathaniel said Governor Ortom, who recalled with pains how a month ago, more than 40 persons were also massacred at another market in the same LGA of the state by the armed bandits, condemned the new development.
The governor expressed worries over the boldness being exhibited by the assailants while unleashing terror on innocent citizens of the country.
He declared that the activities of the gunmen are an indication that the nation is in grave danger, stressing that the country stands the risk of losing out its territorial integrity to terrorists, bandits, and other criminal elements whose sole agenda is to conquer Nigeria.
The Governor lamented the atrocities of the terrorists who are going about invading communities unhindered with unprovoked attacks and says this is threatening the unity of Nigeria and weakens the faith of the citizens in government.
He called on all patriotic Nigerians to join hands with the government and condemn these mindless acts against innocent Nigerians who are already weighed down by the harsh economic policies of the APC-led federal government.
The Governor appealed to security agencies not to be deterred by the challenges they face in fighting to protect the sovereignty of the nation but to go all out to uproot the terrorists from the shores of Nigeria.
Governor Ortom prayed that God will grant the deceased rest and the families the fortitude to bear the loss.