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From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
The Deputy Governor of Benue State, Dr. Sam Ode, has stated that the state governor, Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia, is poised to address the security challenges facing the state.
He stated this while briefing newsmen in his office in Makurdi.
According to him, Alia’s government is poised to address the security challenges in the state including the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons, (IDPs), who have been kept outside their homes for years.
Ode said: “We have come with a clear cut policy to resettle them, and we want you, (Benue people) to take us into confidence.
“Security is on the concurrent list of the Government of Benue State, and it is in the purview of everyone. If you observe that something is going wrong, you say something,” he said.
He, however, condemned what he described as “very mischievous media outing by some elements” which he said was a calculated attempt to discredit the Benue State Government adding: “My attention was drawn to the headlines suggesting that the government okayed the launching of a Fulani security outfit in the state.
“The mastermind were intending to bring us back to the days of insecurity where we had gory stories of herdsmen conflict and killings.
“It was reported that I, the deputy governor, commissioned a Fulani outfit on behalf of the state government.
“I want to categorically state that no Fulani outfit was launched in Benue State.
“That the government at no time okayed the launch of any such security outfit.
“As the deputy governor, I did not authorise any group or any individual to represent me or the state government at any of such Fulani Security Summit or commissioning of the outfit.”
Ode called on the people of Benue State to ignore the news making the rounds as it was being peddled by mischievous elements to drag the Alia administration into a non-existent controversy, cause disaffection and scare the people of the state.
He reiterated that the security of lives is on the front burner of the Alia administration in Benue State, adding: “We have no intention to collaborate with such security outfit to achieve it.”
