Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia has received the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Olufemi Oluyede who has relocated to the State due to worsening security situation with series of attacks and killings by terrorist herdsmen.
Alia who discussed with the Army Chief behind closed-doors briefed critical stakeholders on their deliberations which he said was geared towards taking a direct approach to surmount the degenerating security situation in parts of the State.
Lieutenant-General Oluyede had after meeting with Governor Alia at the Government House in Makurdi left immediately to engage with his commanders to confront the lingering issues of insecurity which brought him to the State.
Meanwhile, following the persistent attacks by yet to be challenged terrorist herdsmen, residents of Gwer-West and Apa local councils of Benue State who are the later victims of the bloodbath have called for additional security checkpoints in strategic locations.
This is even as some of the attacked communities accuse the military of complicity therefore demanding their withdrawal from their areas. Their demands were raised by the second class chief in Naka, Gwer-West LGA as well as the youth leader in Apa LGA when the State Government delegation visited the affected communities.
Residents of the two LGAs have continued to live in fear following Sunday’s worrisome attacks with those in Naka in Gwer-West LGA worst hit prior to this time.
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What needs to be done to salvage this already terrifying situation so residents can begin to sleep with both eyes closed and go back to their normal ways of life is a major question that has been begging for answers for the past decades.
When the State Government delegation embarked upon on-the-spot assessment led by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Paul Biam, the Second Class chief of Gwer-West LGA, Ter Tyoshin, Daniel Abomtse proffered some solutions. The team also visited Apa LGA where several people have been displaced.
It is hoped that with the relocation of the Chief of Army Staff and his principal officers to the State innocent citizens will now be able to experience the long desired peace and tranquillity that has eluded them for decades.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
