Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia
By TYAV SAM TYAV, Makurdi –
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia has condemned in strong terms the attacks and massacre of innocent citizens at Yelwata by suspected criminal herders, saying nothing should warrant taking of life.
The State Deputy Governor, Dr. Sam Ode spoke on behalf of the Governor when he visited Yelwata, the affected town.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tersoo Kula on Sunday said the deputy governor visited the scene of the heinous act earlier on the directives of the Governor and delivered the message, assuring that the Governor was not resting on his oars to ensure the state experiences peace.
According to him, “Governor Hyacinth Alia acknowledges and shares in your pains and grief caused by the this attacks on your community by criminal elements suspected to be armed herdsmen.”
He did the state government twas consistently engaging with Federal security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, and relevant stakeholders to strengthen security interventions and provide lasting solutions to these persistent attacks.
He informed that more tactical teams have started arriving to Benue from the Federal Government and additional security deployments are being arranged for vulnerable areas.
“Response squad Teams are also deployed and will be in Benue from Sunday, strategic community dialogues are ongoing to enhance active intelligence sharing.
“The state’s joint operations units are also being strengthened, and government will not relent in its utmost commitment to defending the lives and properties of all residents.
“In the spirit of peace and unity, we call on religious, traditional, and political leaders across the state to sensitize and guide the youths under their influence against unlawful gatherings or confrontations that may spiral out of control.
The Governor, according the the statement, appealed to the public to make use of official communication channels to report any suspicious activities and to stay informed through credible sources.
He insisted that Benue State remains committed to justice, peace, and security for all.
It could be recalled that suspected herdsmen attacked Yelwata town in Guma Local Government Area on Saturday morning, killing over two hundred residents and destroying property worth billions of naira.
