MAKURDI – Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has declared that his administration will stop at nothing to flush out terrorists and armed herdsmen behind the wave of deadly attacks across the state.
The governor made the vow on Tuesday during a visit to Otukpo Local Government Area, where he sympathised with families of victims of last weekend’s attacks on Akpachi and Otukpo-Nobi communities that left 18 people dead.
According to a statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, Alia also visited survivors receiving treatment at the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo, and directed that the Benue State Government should foot all their medical bills.
The governor said his administration had invested heavily in tackling insecurity by providing logistics, motivation and other support to security agencies, assuring residents that the government would continue to strengthen security operations until criminal elements are driven out of the state.
“I will not rest on my oars until terrorists are completely flushed out of Benue. It is my responsibility to protect the lives and property of our people, and we will continue working until peace returns to every community,” Alia said.
He also assured residents that his government remained committed to protecting lives and ancestral lands, urging communities to remain vigilant, report suspicious movements and cooperate with security agencies to prevent further attacks.
During the visit, Governor Alia paid a condolence visit to the palace of the Ochi’Idoma, HRM Agaba’Idu Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji John, where he sympathised with the traditional ruler over the tragic killings.
The governor reiterated his administration’s determination to restore lasting peace across Benue and ensure that those responsible for the attacks are brought to justice.
