Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom on July 22, 2025, clarified that his criticisms of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s security policies were not born of hatred but concern over poor execution.
Speaking at a community event, Ortom, who led Benue from 2015 to 2023, cited 1,200 farmer-herder conflict deaths in 2022 as evidence of neglect, contrasting with Buhari’s claim of a 70% security improvement. He praised Buhari’s intent but faulted the 2019–2023 strategy, which allocated ₦3 trillion to defense yet saw 15,000 displaced in Benue.
Buhari’s administration touted military operations like Operation Safe Haven, reducing incidents by 30% per defense ministry data, but critics like Ortom argue rural areas remained unprotected. The government labeled his stance political, given his PDP affiliation, while supporters see it as accountability. \
The narrative reflects a divide: official optimism versus lived experience, with no independent audit to settle the debate, leaving Ortom’s critique as a personal perspective amid ongoing insecurity.