Benue people spent N2.1bn buying cattle to celebrate yuletide, says Ortom

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom has revealed that survey carried out by his administration discovered that the people of the state spend an average of N2.1billion yearly on the purchase of cow from herdsmen to mark Christmas.

Ortom made the revelation yesterday at the one year memorial service, organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in collaboration with the state government to honour victims of January 2018 killings in Guma and Logo, LGAs of the state

He regretted that despite the huge capital flight occasioned by the patronage, herdsmen had ceaselessly unleashed terror on the people leading to the loss of innocent lives, destruction of property and farmlands in 18 of the 23 LGAs of the state and urged the people to indulge in local animal husbandry and livestock breeding to improve their livelihood.

He commended the military Operation Whirl Stroke, (OPWS) for restoring peace to the troubled areas of the state but, observed that more needs to be done at the border communities to restore confidence in the minds of the IDPs to enable them return home. Benue state CAN Chairman, Akpen Leva who commended Ortom for standing with the people, placed a curse on anyone who corroborates with outsiders to betray the people of the state.