Go after FUNAM – House of rep tells police

The House of Representatives has ordered the Police & Department of State Services to go after the Fulani Nationality Movement (FUNAM), the group who claimed responsibility for the recent attack on the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom.

The lawmakers agreed to the decision after a motion jointly moved by members of the House from Benue, who demanded an investigation of the attack and prosecution of the suspects.

Adopting the motion, The House condemns the armed attack and assassination attempt on Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State by unidentified gunmen on the 20th March 2021, while commending the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), for his prompt response and immediately ordering an investigation into the attack.

The House call on the Department of State Services and Nigeria Police to investigate claims of responsibility on the attack of Governor Samuel Ortom, as well as other threats and statements allegedly attributed to one Umar Amir Shehu and the Fulani National Movement (FUNAM)

The motion partly read, “The House takes cognizance of the response by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari, in condemning the armed attack and assassination attempt on Governor Samuel Ortom, and his subsequent directive for the Police to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the attack.

“The House acknowledges the directives of the Inspector General of Police (Mohammed Adamu) and immediate deployment of FCID to Benue State for a thorough investigation of the incident.

“The House is even more worried that the assassination attempt on Ortom of Benue State is an invitation to anarchy and glaring indication that the nation is drifting into a state of full-scale lawlessness.”