Benue Assembly lauds Gov. Alia for quick intervention in Sankera violence
By Titus Atondu, Makurdi
The Benue state house of Assembly has commended the governor of the state Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia for his prompt intervention in restoring calm in the recent violent protest in Ukum local government area of the state.
The house gave the commendation during Tuesday’s plenary following a motion by a member representing Ukum state constituency, Nyiyongo Ezra Mcsylawn.
The plenary presided over by the speaker, Rt. Hon Aondona Dajoh, appreciated the governor for donating 23 Hilux vans and 50 motorcycles to security agents for surveillance in the area to maintain orderliness.
While condemning the killing of six persons in Boikyo of Ayati council ward by bandits, the lawmakers called for a committee of inquiry to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the violent protest and why some individual’s property were targeted during the destruction.
They called for more deployment of security personnel to Ukum to guarantee safety of lives while the state emergency management Agency, SEMA, is advised to provide relief materials to victims of the attack.
Earlier, the lawmaker representing Ukum, Mcsylawn in his motion, condemned the gruesome killings and destruction of property in his constituency and thanked governor Alia for declaring curfew to forestall further breakdown of law and order.
Seconding the motion, member representing Kastina-Ala east, Jonathan Agbedyie decried the incessant attacks in Sankera intermediate area and sued for more effort from government to address the situation.
In separate remarks, Hon. Peter Ipusu representing Katsina – Ala West Constituency and the Majority Chief Whip observed compromise on the side of the security operatives Hon. Ipusu lamented why security operatives from the neighbouring local government areas like Logo, Katsina Ala and Kwande local government areas were not able to synergies with the security in Ukum, the crisis local government area, to halt the destruction of government property.
Hon. Michael Audu of Adoka/Ugboju also condemned the action of the youths who went on wanton destruction of government and individual property.
Nigerian NewsDirect reports that the speaker, Dajoh in his remarks, expressed worry over the delay by the security agencies from neighbouring local governments in responding during the protest.
He alleged that those behind the killing are indigenes of Ukum and should be fished out instead of youths destroying government and individual property.
Similarly, the house also directed deployment of security operatives to the boundary community of Bonta in Konshisha and Opute in Oju local government areas to address renewed hostilities between both communities.
