Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has raised concerns over the non-implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s directive on tackling insecurity in the state, weeks after it was issued.

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Monday, Ortom stated that no meeting has been held with stakeholders, despite the President’s call for collaboration among past governors, traditional leaders, and current Governor Hyacinth Alia following the June 18 Yelewata massacre that left over 100 people dead.

 “We have not had any meeting. Maybe we are still waiting. If the governor calls, we’ll go,” Ortom said. “Benue belongs to all of us, and we can’t continue to watch this happen.”

The former governor noted the Yelewata attack personally affected him, as the location is in his local government area and part of his ancestral roots.

Reflecting on his administration, Ortom highlighted efforts made in working with traditional rulers and security agencies to curb violent attacks, while reiterating his strong opposition to the Ruga settlement and cattle colony proposals championed under the Buhari administration, calling them “camouflage to deceive Nigerians.”

He also attributed the ongoing violence in Benue to foreign mercenaries allegedly from countries like Chad, Niger, Senegal, Mali, and Libya, claiming they were aided by local collaborators in a bid to “wipe out a particular people.”

Despite the current administration’s delayed follow-through, Ortom commended Tinubu for his personal visit to Benue and direct order to security agencies to apprehend those responsible for the killings, something he said was lacking during the previous government.