…decries level of destruction

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

Governor Hyacinth Alia has vowed to bring those behind Wednesday’s violent protest in Sankera, Ukum Local Government Area, of the state to justice.

Recall that hundreds of irate youths had poured into the streets of Sankera following Tuesday night’s attack on Ayati community in Borikyo Council Ward of the LGA by suspected armed bandits that claimed lives and left other injured.

They reportedly stormed the official residence of the Local Government Caretaker Chairman with the corpses of the dead, took over the Sankera -Ayati-Sai road and made bonfire on the highway in protest and eventually went violent.

They matched to several government and personal properties in the town and set them ablaze.

To stem an escalation of the crisis, the state government imposed a 24 hour curfew on the LGA which was followed by a dusk-to-dawn curfew.

Governor Alia who led a government delegation for on-the-spot assessment of the situation expressed shock at the level of destruction in the town.

Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Sam Ode, he assured that normalcy would return to the area warning that the government would not fold its arms and watch criminal elements unleash mayhem on innocent citizens and destroy properties in the state.

According to a statement by the Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor, Ior Ikyereve, “the Governor condemned the action of the irate youths describing it as ‘barbaric’ and reiterated that his government would not tolerate anything less than peace and security of lives and properties.”

He stated that “the curfew imposed on the area from 6pm to 6am daily will remain in place until further notice.”

The Governor commended the security agencies in the state for standing strong in ensuring that peace and normalcy returned to the area, and called on all stakeholders to embrace peace and give progress a chance.

He emphasised that the visit was to show solidarity with the affected people and to reiterate the government’s commitment to ensuring that justice was served.

The Benue State Police Commissioner, Mr. Hassan Yabanet also reassured residents that normalcy had returned to the area, and that there was no cause for alarm. “We are on top of the situation,” he said.

“Two victims of the mayhem, the Chaplain of St Paul Nursery, Primary and Secondary School spoke about the destruction caused to his school, while the District Head of Borkyo, Chief Joseph Myaga Unongo recounted how his wife and two children were burnt inside his house.”

The delegation visited several locations, including the burnt Ukum Local Government Secretariat, INEC office, Government College Zaki Biam, Benue State High Court, Benue Links motor Park, St. Paul Nursery, Primary and Secondary Schools, Magistrate Court, Federal Road Safety Corps, and Police Station all in Ukum.