Benue Under Siege, Alia Laments

BENUE State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has declared that the state was currently under siege by armed herdsmen, even as he renewed his call on the Federal Government and stakeholders to wade in the security challenges, condemning attacks and killings in the state.
Speaking in Gboko, Alia and prominent Tiv sons and daughters, including former governor, Samuel Ortom, and former minister of Justice, Mike Aondoakaa, met at the Palace of the Tor Tiv, His Highness, James Ayatse, over the security situation in the state.
The governor stated this even as the death toll in the Thursday and Good Friday attacks in Ukum and Logo Local Councils rose to 72.
Armed herdsmen on motorbikes had stormed the two councils in coordinated attacks, killing, maiming and razing homes, a few days after similar attacks on Ikobi, Asa 2, Otobi-Akpa, Emichi, Okpomaju and Odudaje communities in Otukpo Council, which claimed about 30 lives, with many sustaining severe injuries and several properties destroyed.
Speaking while giving an update on the attacks, Alia urged the Federal Government to step into the situation and end the activities of the killer herders in the state, noting: “Last night, we got wind again that three dead bodies were recovered from the Katsina-Ala axis of the state, which means that the entire space out there is under siege again.
“We are under siege as a state; we are under attack, and those who are attacking us must have a face, must have an aim and must have a drive. They come, they drag people out, they kill to occupy. This is extremely unacceptable.
“Barely three weeks ago, we had attacks in Otukpo, Benue South District and 13 dead bodies were recovered from that attack.
“This is a siege. Barely one and half months ago, we did not have it easy to repel the terrorists in Kwande axis. So, if this is not a siege, what is it?
“The Federal Government must up its game in our support and in fighting this insurgency. It is targeted; I mean, it is planned and religiously being executed.
“They are terrorists; they are terrorists, period. And we strongly believe that their aim is to land grab. A terrorist is a terrorist, irrespective of his ethnicity or his religion. Criminality is criminality period.”
The solicited support, assuring of his determination to end insecurity in the five worst-hit local councils of the state within the shortest possible time.
He also charged the people to always seek information from security agencies that would help them act decisively to tackle any form of insecurity in their communities.
“If you hear something, say something. It will enable the security agents to move out there and repel the invaders.”