THE Middle Belt Forum, MBF on Sunday raised fears over alleged threats on the life of Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State by those it described as “forces opposed to his persistent and clear stance against open grazing of cattle in Nigeria, especially in the Middle Belt region”.

The organisation said some persons want to cause trouble to pave the way for the declaration of a state of emergency in Benue State.

While warning that the situation could be a recipe for more crises if urgent steps were not taken to address the trend, the MBF said the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), should be held accountable should anything harm befall Ortom.

The National President of MBF, Dr Pogu Bitrus, said these in a statement issued in Abuja.

He said, “More infuriating to those plotting against the Benue governor is his insistence that the 2023 presidency must not be retained by the North, a position that was recently adopted by the MBF at its National Executive Committee meeting in Akwanga, Nasarawa State.

“Despite pressure and threat from those that are determined to continue with the culture of bloodbath and massive destruction by armed and brutal Fulani militia, Governor Ortom has remained unswerving to the defence of his people by insisting that the anti-open grazing law can never be reversed.

“Considering the irreversible determination of Governor Ortom to stand with his people on power rotation to the South in 2023 and his unbending opposition to rescind the anti-open grazing law, anti-democratic forces are alleged to be working underground to instigate crisis with the sole aim of having the Federal Government impose a state of emergency on Benue.

“As the umbrella organisation for ethnic nationalities in the Middle Belt region, the MBF condemns all forms of provocations in whatever disguise that can threaten the present fragile peace in the state.

“What our nation’s security forces should do now is to go after these bloodthirsty criminals that have turned our communities into a vast killing field. President Buhari should stop the orchestrated massacre of our people in the phantom name of farmer/herder clashes.”