From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF) Senator George Akume has condoled the people of Yelewata and the entire Nyiev Council Ward of Guma Local Government Area of Benue State over the June 13 killings in their community.
Senator Akume also called on them to remain calm and steadfast as President Bola Tinubu is poised and making concerted efforts to put a permanent end to the killings in Guma and all other parts of the state.
The SGF made the call while interacting with the people during a visit to Yelwata to see first hand the extent of the carnage that led to loss of lives and destruction of properties.
Senator Akume assured the people that President Tinubu shares in their sorrow and pain, and would stop at nothing to ensure that they were protected from further attacks.
He regretted his inability to visit the scene of the incident earlier, and stated that arrangements were being made by the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) to provide relief materials to the people to cushion the effects of the attack in the short term.
The SGF urged them not to take laws into their own hands, as the security agencies are taking steps to enhance surveillance and prevent recurrence of such senseless killings.
Member representing Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency, Hon. Dickson Tarkighir who also hails from Guma, and the Senator representing Benue North-West, Senator Titus Zam condoled the families that lost their loved ones.
They told the people that the SGF who facilitated the deployment of security operatives to the area would continue to stand by them at all times.
Hon. Tarkighir and Senator Zam expressed sadness over the incident, and asked the people to trust President Tinubu’s promise to end the killings.
A political leader in Nyiev Council Ward, Hon. Mattew Mnyam said they were happy with the visit of the SGF as it inspired some hope in them, and prayed that such a heinous act does not repeat itself in the area.
The District Head of Nyiev, Zaki Bernard Shawa informed the SGF that they had lost over 100 people in the few days before the incident on the 13th of June.
Zaki Shawa appealed to Senator Akume to facilitate the establishment of a mobile police force unit in Yelwata, and requested for donation of relief materials for the victims.