According to The Vanguard, Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, declared a full-scale military operation to tackle the ongoing bandit attacks plaguing the Sankera area. This comes after a Tuesday night raid on Ayati, Ukum Local Government Area (LGA), by armed bandits, which left several residents dead. The attack sparked protests on Wednesday, which were reportedly hijacked by criminals who caused widespread destruction of public and private property. In a televised address from Makurdi, Governor Alia condemned the violence and expressed his condolences to the victims. He highlighted efforts made by his administration to combat banditry, including the neutralization of two bandits and the recovery of weapons and vehicles. However, he acknowledged retaliatory attacks by bandits targeting civilians believed to have aided security forces....CONTINUE READING

Governor Alia addressed the hijacking of the protests, stating, “These peaceful protests were hijacked by bandits and miscreants who had carefully planned to unleash mayhem.” He assured the public that the violence “has not gone unnoticed” and vowed to hold perpetrators accountable. The Governor also commended the bravery of three soldiers and two police officers injured while protecting residents. He reassured the public of their recovery and ongoing collaboration with security agencies. While expressing empathy for the frustrations of those affected, Governor Alia urged residents against violence, stating, “Destruction of public property and chaos only serve to compound our challenges.”

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to security and announced the creation of a commission of inquiry to investigate the root causes of the violence. Additionally, Governor Alia promised further actions to bring an end to “these retrogressive activities. The Governor concluded his address with a strong message to those involved in the attacks, stating his government’s “patience has run out” and a more forceful approach would be taken. He urged residents to maintain unity and resist attempts to destabilize the state.