By: Ade Phillips
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has appealed to politicians to refrain from politicizing the insecurity situation in the region.
Alia made the plea during his visit to Gbajir, Ityulugh District in Ukum Local Government Area, where 45 residents were reportedly killed by militia groups.
The violence erupted on Wednesday, March 6, resulting in the tragic loss of lives. Alia, while expressing concern over the escalating violence, urged politicians to join efforts in addressing the security challenges rather than exploiting them for political gains.
He also commended the swift response of security agencies to the situation and cautioned locals against harboring criminals.
Notably, Alia pointed out that the majority of casualties were militia members, raising questions about the specific targeting of a particular village and household in the attack.
“If politicians are sponsoring militia gangs, as the traditional leaders have pointed out, let them stop such evil. Their communities and the families in their local governments want peace.
“The person who went out there to cry wolf has to come back and answer to his traditional rulers. He must tender apologies to me as the governor of the state and then to the entire people of the state,” he said.
He recalled that a 14-day ultimatum was given and the response was very encouraging as herders were leaving, “only for the militia group to attack them, kidnap some, and rustle 61 cattle.”
“Ransom was paid, but only two people were released, which led to the reprisal attack by the armed herders.
“A lot would have been averted if the herders had been allowed to retreat peacefully, but the action of a few evil people has put innocent people in harm’s way.
He accused the senator representing Benue North-East, Memga Udende, of failing to present all the facts that led to the buildup to the crisis in his area when he presented the matter before the Senate.
“Udende is from Ukum and knows most of the young men there; it means he is in a position to know the fighting groups. We want him to expose anyone suspected of sponsoring violence in Ukum,” he said.
Alia called on neighbourhood watch groups to be on the alert and continue to play their roles so that peace would return to the area.
He charged the Ukum Traditional Council to work out the best approach to the situation and to also caution those fanning embers of violence to desist or be made to face the consequences of their actions.
Earlier in his remarks, the Ter Ukum and chairman, Ukum Traditional Council, Orkaa Kaave, had said that the attack took place at the Ityulugh ward with the residence of the District Head, Deuti Adzande, on Tuesday morning.
Offering further insight into the crisis, Kaave disclosed that he received reports of herders influxing into the local government on Saturday and Sunday last week, which he reported to the appropriate authorities.
According to him, as more herders entered the area, he was informed that a youth from the area had stolen 61 cows and also kidnapped some of their men.
“He allegedly collected ransom but refused to release the captives,” he said.
“The Divisonal Police Officer (DPO) of Gbeji, led by the herders, was able to recover the cattle in Ityulugh District but after paying ransom for the release of the four kidnapped herders, only two were released by Chen, which inevitably led to the attack.
“The house of the district head was attacked because the herders felt he was shielding the culprits. No other place
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