19th February, 2024
By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
Governor Hyacinth Alia has blamed the resurgence of insecurity and killings in some parts of Benue on the presence of killer herdsmen allegedly invited into the state from Niger Republic by those who did not wish his administration well.
The Benue House of Assembly had last week directed Special Advisers to Alia on internal security and commanders of Livestock and Volunteer Guards to stop the influx of herdsmen whom they accused of killing Benue people into the state.
Benue Assembly Speaker, Hyacinth Dajoh, told Special Advisers of the Governor summoned to explain the security situation in the state to wake up to their responsibilities or tender their resignation letters.
Also addressing the advisers, the Majority Leader, Mr Saater Tiseer lamented that attacks by suspected herdsmen in most of the local government areas were capable of crumbling the state economy.
Also, Mr Manger Manger (Tarka/APC), decried the large influx of herdsmen across the state despite the open grazing prohibition and ranches establishment law of Benue, 2017.
However, the the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internal Security Affairs, Mr Joseph Har, had explained to the lawmakers that the open grazing prohibition and ranches establishment law is still in force in the state.
He also said meetings of herdsmen and local government officials in the affected areas are being convened to tackle the security challenges.
However, Ali told a church congregation in Benue on Sunday that the herdsmen were invited to destablise his administration. While he did not mention those who invited the herdsmen, Alia however said he will resist efforts to destablise his administration.
“I’m quite saddened to speak about what some fellow Benue citizens are doing. What they are planting, planning, and executing is not in favor of the State.
“The security report has revealed that some Benue people in the State have gone out of their way to invite herdsmen from Niger Republic to troop into Benue State.
“All in the name of bringing down this administration and this is unacceptable but the security agents are doing their work.
“Security apparatuses are doing their work and those who would be found guilty of this will not go unpunished. This is not the Benue we prayed for. The electioneering period is over and now is governance.”
The Governor, however, urged the people of the state to remain calm. According to him, security agencies are doing everything possible to ensure the safety of people of the state.