‘Don’t politicize attack on Ortom’ – Buhari

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on Sunday night called on Nigerians not to politicise the recent attack on Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.

Buhari disclosed that he had ordered a team of investigators from the Police headquarters in Abuja to look into the attack with a view to uncover the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

While condemning the attack, the president declared that an attack on the Benue governor is an attack on Nigerians.

This was contained in a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu in Abuja.

“In expressing his sympathies, and that of the government of the federation to Governor Ortom and all Benue indigenes, President Buhari said the unfortunate incident must not be politicised, reiterating that an attack on one Nigerian is an attack on all Nigerians,” the statement read.

Buhari also emphasised that the string of brutal attacks on individuals and communities in the state, with the latest one targeting the governor, was unacceptable.

“Let there be open and transparent investigation and whoever is linked to it should be caught and be made to face the law,” the President directed.

Ortom, in an address with newsmen shortly after the dastardly attack, had fingered the Miyetti Allah group as being responsible for it – though he provided no evidence.

Earlier, the Inspector-general of police, Mohammed Adamu, said an investigation had been launched to uncover the perpetrators and bring them to book.