Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue State has challenged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government to give account of the $1bn security funds jointly put together by the 36 states of the federation to fight insurgency in the country.
The Benue governor gave the challenge while addressing journalists at the Government House, Makurdi, shortly before the commencement of the State Security Council meeting.
The governor wondered what the Federal Government had done with the money that insecurity has continued to escalate in the country.
According to Ortom, he had mandated his deputy, Benson Abounu, who represented him at a virtual meeting of the Nigerian Governors Forum,to seek clarifications on the matter.
He said, “What have they done with the $1bn the Governors Forum gave on behalf of the local governments for security? That money is huge. What have they done with the money that terrorists will kidnap citizens without any rescue mission?
“It is even more worrisome and unthinkable that terrorists will threaten to kidnap our President. If that happens, that means we have no country again.”
While emphasising that the primary responsibility of any responsible government is to ensure safety of lives and property, the governor said the situation where innocent Nigerians are left at the mercy of terrorists was unacceptable.
“We must not allow this to continue, it is very painful to see the country where it is today,” he said.
The governor affirmed that security issues should be the concern of all, noting that it should not be tailored along political lines as protection of lives and property of citizens ought to be prioritised.