Benue asset recovery: Don’t be scared of witch-hunt if you’re not witch – Gov Alia knocks Ortom

The Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia has fired back at his immediate predecessor, Chief Samuel Ortom over the comment alleging that the current administration was harassing and witch-hunting the former governor.

Reports that Ortom had in a statement issued by his media aide, Terver Akase, alleged that the incumbent governor has subjected him to persecution.

Ortom’s assertion was sequel to an invasion of a workshop on Tuesday by members of the Assets Recovery Committee led by one Barrister Tom Uja where some vehicles allegedly stolen by the previous government were recovered.

Reacting to Ortom’s outburst, Alia in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula titled “THOSE WHO ARE NOT WITCHES SHOULD NOT BE SCARED OF A “WITCH-HUNT”, wondered why the former governor was misconstruing the raide, stressing that the Recovery Committee was not targeting him.

According to Kula, the incumbent governor had prior to the invasion, charged the committee not to witch-hunt anyone.

The statement reads partly, “Ortom was not and has never been the target, as his aide and the Publicity Secretary of his party would want the unsuspecting mass of Benue people to falsely believe in a bid to curry undue public sympathy.

“The discovery and recovery of numerous vehicles at a private building within the state capital by the committee is an indication that they have truly swung into action.

“We do not believe Ortom is the proverbial witch and as such he is being ‘hunted’ as his spokespersons would want the public to believe.

“Someone should ask him not to be bothered even if Alia has come to witch-hunt. He will only be concerned with witches that, under the cover of night, mercilessly pillaged with reckless abandon the resources and common patrimony of the state”.