From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Benue State Governor Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia has visited and donated relief materials to hundreds of displaced persons in six council wards of Kwande Local Government Area, (LGA) attacked by bandits suspected to be militia herdsmen recently.
Addressing the people in Ichongo traditional council, Jato Aka, at RCM Special Science Primary School, Nyihemba and Achia primary health Care, Usambeliev Ikyurav ya, Governor Alia assured the people that the government was doing everything possible to bring the crisis to a halt.
Governor Alia, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Sam Ode, stated that the government would not fold her hands and watch bandits kill, destroy and take over their communities in the state.
He promised that a military post would be established in Abaji to prevent the bandits from attacking farmers in Anyiase, Abande and Nundugh and directed the commissioner of Police to back up the police station in Jato Aka with 50 more police personnel for a swift response.
He said the boundary demarcation between Benue, Taraba, Cameroon, Ebonyi and Nasarawa would commence next month, a measure he believes would serve as a non-kinetic approach to tackling the insecurity situation in the state.
The Secretary to the State Government, Professor Joseph Alakali, and Chairman, Kwande LGA, Rev Mark Hule, assured the people of the governor’s commitment to their welfare saying he is making frantic efforts to resolve the issue once and for all.
While assuring the people of Turan and Ikyurav-ya that the police is on top of the situation, Commissioner of Police, Benue State Police Command, Emmanuel Adesina, said two bandits were killed and one arrested and weapons recovered from them.
The Ter Kwande, Chief Timothy Ahire, thanked the Governor for the visit and lamented that the markets in Anyiase Abande, Nundugh and Abaji are no longer witnessing patronage due to attacks by herdsmen militia.
The Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Sir James Iorpuu, assured the people of the agency’s continuous supply of food and non-food items to cushion their sufferings.
The Commissioner, Benue State Civil Service Commission (BSCSC), Mrs Scholastica Lyam, who was also on the entourage, encouraged the displaced people to look unto God for a lasting solution to the predicament.
A victim, Terver Ageba, from Nyihemba, Mbakyor council ward appreciated the Governor and his entourage for giving them a sense of belonging, pointing out that the herdsmen have dislodged them from their homes and they have nowhere to lay their heads.
The council wards affected are Moon, Mbadura, Yaiv, Kumakwagh, Mbakyor and Neivwan.