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… As Ter Katsina Ala is laid to rest
From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Benue state Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, has summoned all sons of Sankera political bloc to a peaceful dialogue to ensure lasting peace is returned to the area.
Governor Alia made the call while speaking at the burial of Ter Katsina-Ala, HRH Chief Benjamin Wombo at Katsina Ala LGA on Saturday.
Alia who decried the spate of killings, kidnappings and other forms of criminality in the area said state government can no longer condone such acts.
He directed both serving and former Senators, House of Representatives Members as well as other prominent sons of Sankera to convene an emergency meeting to enable them proffer lasting solutions to the insecurity in the area for immediate implementation.
Alia who condemned the kidnapping of the Caretaker committee chairman of Ukum LGA, Rev Gideon Haanongon and three others, directed the abductors to release them with immediate effect, saying Government was ready to engage them to be useful in the society if they refrain from criminal activities.
The Governor also urged the traditional leaders in the axis to do the same, pointing out that his administration was determined to ensure that peace returns not only to Logo, Ukum and Katsina-Ala LGAs but to the entire state.
Governor Alia consoled the Wombo family over the demise of their father urging them to take solace in the fact that he lived a fulfilled life.
Earlier, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Sen. George Akume called for collective responsibility to move the state forward.
Represented by Sen Jack Gyado Sen Akume who called on all Sankera sons to ensure peace was returned to the axis, pledged the Federal Government’s support to ensure Benue is peaceful and developed.
Also, former Senator for Benue North-East, Sen. Gabriel Suswam, who also sued for peace said it was time to sanitize the Sankera area and rid it of all forms of criminality to enable the people exercise their fundamental human rights of free movement from one place to another.
He said the axis was well known to be the food hub of the state and needed peace to prevail for farm produce to be produced and transported of of the state for enhanced state and nations GDP.
Earlier in his sermon, Bishop of Katsina-Ala Diocese, Most Rev Isaac Dugu, Most Rev Isaac Dugu, called on the citizens to intensify prayers for the state, the Governor and the Sankera axis for peace to rain and the state to thrive.
The son of the deceased, Hon Prince Solomon Wombo, who is a member of the House of Representatives for Katsina-Aka, Ukum and Logo Federal Constituency, thanked all dignitaries who found time to honour his father’s burial.
He appealed for peace in the constituency as in the federal level they would ensure peace reigns in the axis.
