From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has said that the state is currently under siege by those seeking to occupy the land.
one of aides has disclosed that death toll in the last Thursday and Good Friday attacks on some communities in Ukum and Logo Local governments of state, have continued to rise as more dead bodies have been recovered bringing the number of desth to 72.
The Governor ,while addressing congregants at the Chapel of Grace, Government House, Makurdi, after Mass yesterday, said that taking over their land is not acceptable.
Alia, who admitted that Benue was under siege called on the people of the state to report suspicious movements to security agencies .
He noted that security was the prerogative of the people and Benue people have a duty to rise against invaders by being vigilant and reporting any negative movement to security personnel.
He observed that those who were attacking the state have a face as well as a mission to occupy the land, vowing that such act was extremely unacceptable.
He encouraged the people not to be weighed down by the things happening around them promising that he would go to any length to ensure that Benue people would experience peace.
“If you hear something, say something, it will enable the security agents to move out there and repel the invaders.
“We are under siege as a state, we are under attack, and those who are attacking us must have a face, must have an aim, and must have a drive.They come, they drag people out, they kill to occupy. This is extremely unacceptable.
“A terrorist is a terrorist irrespective of his ethnicity or his religion. Criminality is criminality period. So whoever commits it is a terrorist and he should not be where the living are.
“I invite you politicians to stay clear. Don’t be part of those who are attacking us. We have some machinery in place to dig deeper to know who is a culprit; who is involved in the destruction of our state.”
He condemned all forms of criminality, saying it would never be condoned in the state .
He said the death and resurrection of Jesus demonstrates selfless sacrifice, calling on Benue people to offer prayers for the repose of the souls of those who died in the Holy Week, especially those innocent people who were gruesomely murdered in Ukum and Logo LGAs.
Earlier, the Principal Special Assistant (PSA), to the Governor on Media and Content Creation, Mr Isaac Uzaan, disclosed that the recovery of additional corpses in the affected areas has brought tthe total number of deaths to 72.