From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Federal Government has been urged to construct a coastal road from Lokoja in Kogi State to Taraba State towards generating economic activities around the corridor and improve security in the area.
President of Apa Legacy and Sustainability Initiatives, Dr David Olofu, made the call when he visited some parts of Apa and Otukpo Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue State, which were attacked by herdsmen, especially Ankpali Edikwu and Otobi-Akpa. He noted that the ungovernable space within the corridor has tremendously contributed to the murderous activities of herdsmen.
According to him, “these criminal elements usually take advantage of the vulnerability of the spaces as their habitat where they hide to carry out their nefarious activities.”
Olofu, who had in the past intervened in critical areas such as provision of scholarship to many indigent students in Benue State and free health services to vulnerable people in Benue South Senatorial District, called on both the federal and state governments to focus more on provision of good roads in the rural areas as a precursor to tackling the menace of herders criminality.
His words: “If we have good roads, our military can easily and swiftly rush to promptly rescue our communities if they are timely informed about any attack. If there are no good roads, the security agencies will find it difficult to quickly rush to the places of attacks when invited.” The Chairman, Board of Trustees of Apa Legacy And Sustainability Initiatives, Prof David Salifu, said: “We are here to commiserate with you and comfort you and pray for you, and to God to help protect the land from the menace of the rampaging herdsmen in our land.”