Ortom speaks on murder of Catholic priest, parishioners

Samuel Ortom

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has assured that the killers of Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Ngugban would be arrested and prosecuted.

Ngugban, the assistant parish priest of St. Paul Catholic Church, Aye-Twar village in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, was shot dead on Tuesday inside the parish house. The assailants also killed three parishioners.

Ortom who condemned the act, assured that the killers would be brought to justice.

“I reassure the people of Katsina-Ala and Sankera that the State Government will not relent until those responsible for the killing and other attacks in the area are brought to justice,” he said in a statement on Wednesday by his chief press secretary Terver Akase.

The governor described the attack as “mindless and wonders why a harmless priest would become the target of armed men.”

He reaffirmed the resolve of his administration not to hand over the state to criminals and urged Benue people to continue to support security operatives with timely and useful information.

Ortom sympathised with the bereaved family and prayed that God grants the soul of the priest eternal rest.