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The Benue State Government has challenged the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to identify the aide who allegedly blocked his convoy from visiting Yelewata community in the Guma Local Government Area of the state.
The challenge was issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Tersoo Kula, who also demanded evidence linking the alleged aide to the obstruction.
Kula said the state government was prepared to allow the police to investigate the incident and prosecute anyone found responsible.
Speaking on The Morning Show, an Arise TV programme, on Wednesday, Kula said the government was unaware of the incident until photographs showing the alleged obstruction emerged online.
He said, “The incident was completely unknown to the government until we started seeing pictures of what was happening.
“But before you say, Jack, they addressed the press and accused the governor of blocking his way. Now, the governor has become an accused person.
“I challenged them that they should name that aide. They mentioned a particular aide, and we said they should go ahead and mention him.
“If there’s any evidence, the police commissioner should ensure that the person who directed this is arrested and brought to book. These are easy assignments. They have the ability to do it.”
The controversy followed reports that Obi’s convoy was prevented from accessing Yelewata, where more than 200 people were reportedly killed in a deadly attack in June.
The incident generated political tension, with allegations that individuals linked to the state government were behind the obstruction.
Kula, however, maintained that the state government had not been informed about the incident and insisted that any person accused of directing the obstruction should be identified so the matter could be investigated.
On the broader security situation, the governor’s aide acknowledged the difficulties confronting Benue but rejected suggestions that the state government was comfortable with the situation.
“What is happening in Benue State is somehow difficult to understand. What is happening to Benue State in respect to insecurity is happening to other states. It’s not peculiar to Benue,” he said.
“But there is no excuse saying that because it’s happening to other states, we should be comfortable. We are not comfortable.
“The reverend father has said to you earlier that he is not comfortable and he is not sleeping in ensuring that the insecurity is reduced to the barest minimum.”
Kula added that the state was now experiencing what he described as “relative peace”, while stressing that the government remained focused on reducing insecurity across Benue.
