Southern, Middle Belt youths back Ortom’s community volunteer guards

Southern and Middle Belt youths, under the aegis of the Coalition of Southern and Middle Belt Youth Leaders’ Assembly (COSMBYLA), have commended Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, for inaugurating the 500-man Community Volunteer Guards outfit in the state.

Ortom had, during the inauguration of the first batch of the corps, last week, said the personnel would provide security to people of the state.

COSMBYLA, in a statement, at the weekend, described the move as courageous and worth emulating.

The statement was co-signed by the President General, Coalition of South East Youth Leaders’ (COSEYL), Good Luck Ibem; Coordinator, Forum of Middle Belt Youth Presidents, Terrence Kuanum; Coordinator, South West Youth Leaders Forum (SWYLF), Shittu Waheed and President, South-South Youth Forum (SSYF), Tito Zokumor.

The statement reads: “As the chief security officer of the state, Governor Ortom has displayed an uncommon and unprecedented attribute as a man who, at all times, means well for his people.

“On an inaugural day, Ortom wore his own uniform as a full member and commanding officer, which is a confirmation that he is not a ‘talking governor’ but a ‘doing governor’. He has shown that he is fully out to stamp out insecurity and all forms of terrorism and killings by Fulani jihadists and terrorists in the state.

“Ortom’s integrity and sagacity, as a good leader, is not in dispute. He has shown to all and sundry that he is a man that stands with his people and not a man that abandons his people.”

The coalition called on stakeholders in the state to support the move of the governor to bring a lasting solution to security challenges facing the state.

It also called on the Federal Government and relevant agencies to give Ortom the necessary support and cooperation, if the true government wants to get rid of insecurity in the country.