14th February, 2024
By Onyeje Abutu-Joel
Members of the Benue House of Assembly have asked officers and agencies charged with security to stop killings of the people and the influx of herdsmen into the state.
Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Hyacinth Dajoh, voiced out the lawmakers’ stance during plenary on Tuesday when some Special Advisers appeared before the house to explain the security situation in the state.
The lawmakers specifically urged Special Advisers to Gov Hyacinth Alia on internal security and commanders of Livestock and Volunteer Guards to stop the influx of herdsmen into the state.
They also urged them to stop the killings of Benue people.
Dajoh particularly urged the two security advisers to wake up to their responsibilities or tender their resignation letters.
He said that Benue people had confidence in the Alia administration to rescue them from attacks, and charged the heads of security apparatus to live up to the expectations of the job.
Also addressing the advisers, the Majority Leader, Mr Saater Tiseer, lamented that the security apparatus in the state had failed to help Benue people to sleep with their two eyes closed.
Tiseer lamented that the attacks by suspected herdsmen in most of the local government areas were capable of crumbling the state economy.
On his part, Mr Manger Manger (Tarka/APC), decried the large influx of herdsmen across the state.
“They graze openly in spite of the open grazing prohibition and ranches establishment law of Benue, 2017.
“The efforts of security personnel are not yielding fruit. They must step up their tactics.”
Mr Elias Audu (Gwer-West /APC), and Mr Anthony Agom (Okpokwu/PDP), said the primary responsibility of any government was security of lives and property, stressing the need to overhaul the security apparatus.
Earlier, Special Adviser to the Governor on Internal Security Affairs, Mr Joseph Har, had explained that the government had put measures in place to tackle security challenges in Benue.
Har explained that what was happening in the state was clearly an act of banditry and terrorism, but assured the lawmakers that the state was not overwhelmed and would not surrender to the invaders.
“The open grazing prohibition and ranches establishment law is still in force; meetings of herdsmen and local government officials in affected areas are being convened to tackle the security challenges,” he added.
The house, in its resolution, ordered the advisers to proffer solutions to the security challenges and report back within one week.
(NAN)