…Bandits Kill Seven In Ukum, Four In Gwer-West LGAs
MAKURDI – Benue State governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has issued a 24-hour curfew in Ukum Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, following the destruction of government property and torching of the LG secretariat on Wednesday.
The torching of the Ukum LG secretariat, Daily Independent learnt, was as a result of a violent protest embarked upon by irate youths in the LGA over the killing of eight persons in Ayati, Borikyo council ward of Ukum LGA of the state in the early hours of Wednesday.
In a related development, herdsmen on Sunday attacked some peasant farmers in Gwer-West LGA, who were on their way back from the farm, leaving four persons dead in the wake of the attack.
However, due to the torching of the Ukum LG secretariat and other government property, which we were yet to ascertain as at press time, the state government slammed a 24-hour curfew on the LGA.
Governor Alia noted that in the first instance, the curfew would last for 24 hours, from 3p.m on Wednesday to 3p.m on Thursday.
He, however, explained that thereafter the curfew would be from dusk to dawn (6p.m to 6a.m) as from today until further notice.
The Deputy Governor, Sam Ode, declared the enforcement of the curfew on behalf of Governor Alia after an emergency security meeting at Government House, Makurdi, on Wednesday.
He said, “Fellow Benue citizens at home and in the diaspora, all stakeholders, all security agencies are to note that this morning being the 3rd July, 2024, the government of Benue State was surprised with grave security situation in Ukum LGA of the state, which has led to the breakdown of law and order, leading to wanton destruction of government property and threat to lives.
“Arising from this situation and the need to protect the lives and property of all Benue citizens especially those who are in Ukum LGA and Sankera general area, the governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Governor Hyacinth Alia, whom I have the honour to represent at this press briefing, has directed that with effect from 3p.m today (Wednesday), there will be a curfew in and around Ukum for 24 hours.
“That is from today 3p.m to tomorrow 3p.m. Thereafter, the curfew will be from 6p.m to 6a.m daily until further notice.
“This is the announcement from the Benue State government sit of power”, Ode stated.
Also speaking on the situation in Ukum, Solomon Iorpev, Technical Adviser to the Benue State Governor on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication, said Governor Alia has sued for calm, even as he stated that massive security presence will be visible in the troubled area.
According to him, “The governor has called for calm as security operatives have been deployed in their numbers to keep the peace in Ukum in particular and the Sankera region at large.”
Meanwhile, bandits on Wednesday killed about eight persons in Ukum LGA of the state, a development which sparked off violent protest by irate youths.
The youths were protesting the killing of the eight persons in Ayati, Borikyo council ward of Ukum LGA, in the early hours of Wednesday.
The protests, which commenced in the early hours of Wednesday, started when the youths blocked the Sankera – Ayati – Sai road and the LG secretariat to express their grievances over the incessant killings taking place in the community, alleging that despite all government has not deemed it fit to intervene.
In a related development, herdsmen have ambushed and killed four farmers, among them, a 16-year old boy, Terkende Orkaha, who were on their way back to Agagbe town from the farm.
Narrating the incident leading to the attack, Terfa Orkaha, elder brother to Terkende, said he was with his younger brother when they were ambushed by the armed herdsmen, close to NKST Church, Tse Nyamti.
He noted that while he ran towards Agagbe, his brother and the others ran back towards the farm, making them easy target for their assailants.
Reacting to the attacks, Chief Joseph Har, Special Adviser to the Governor on Internal Security, who confirmed the incident in Ukum, however, said he was yet to be briefed of the killings in Gwer-West.
He said, “Yes, they (youths in Ukum) are protesting because of the killings in the area. We don’t have the details yet but bandits are responsible.
“So, what the bandits just did is what we call in security parlance, ‘the last kick of a dying horse.’
“Just few days ago, there was massive destruction of their camps in Katsina-Ala. So this is their last kick. They have been dislodged and they are trying everything they can to vent their anger on armless people and possibly cause confusion in the towns.
“We will not be deterred by the killings but we will sustain the heat and pressure on them so they can be degraded completely”, Har vowed.