From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has expressed sadness over the violent protests and wanton destruction of properties in Ukum Local Government Area LGA of the state.
Governor Alia, in a state broadcast Thursday night, said his administration has exhausted the elasticity of its patience with the armed bandits hiding in forests and consistently disrupting the peace of the people of Sankera axis of the state, saying he will no longer guarantee the olive branch he severally extended to them in the past.
Governor Alia who condemned the recent events in Ukum which left his government with no choice but to declare a curfew in the area, said he would not sit back and allow anyone or a group to frustrate the peace of the State and destabilize his government.
Recall that armed men had, on Tuesday night, attacked Ayati village in Ukum LGA, killing six people. This led to a protest in Zaki-Biam on Wednesday, which gave room for bandits who hijacked and wrecked havoc, destroying several properties.
The governor, who described the killings as senseless, extended his sympathies to the families of the victims of the attack, assuring the people of the local government area that he had listened to their cries.
âI assure you that I have listened. The mayhem caused by these heinous acts of violence has not gone unnoticed, and I stand with you in condemning these atrocities. Full military intervention has been ordered in the area.â
He said he had already sent his deputy, Barr. Sam Ode, who had earlier in the day, visited Ukum local government to carry out an on-the-spot assessment of the scenes of destruction, insisting that the destruction of public property only served to compound the challenges and divert resources that would have been used to address the root causes of the crisis.
âLet me emphasize that while we empathize with the pain and frustration felt, we must channel our energies towards constructive actions. Destruction of public property and chaos only serve to compound our challenges and divert resources that could be better used to address the root causes of these issues.â
The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all the residents of Benue, saying he has intensified efforts, collaborating with the security agencies, to bring the perpetrators of violent and criminal acts in the state to justice.
He promised that in the coming days, his government will set up a commission of inquiry to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the mayhem in Ukum, adding that more actions will be taken to demonstrate his unwavering commitment to bring the retrogressive activities in the area to a total end.
The Governor, however, appealed to the people of Sankera and its environs to remain calm and exercise restraint, urging them to work together with his government to rebuild and restore peace in their communities, especially as he is committed to addressing their concerns with urgency and diligence.
He assured the entire people of the state that despite the challenges, development remains at the forefront of his administration’s agenda, as he remains committed to attracting and bringing forth development to all parts of Benue State.
