Demolition in Benue: opposition alleges witch hunt

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

A member of the Media team Samuel Tivta for a House of Representative aspirant for 2027 Guma/Makurdi Constituency Emmanuel Shior has alleged political witch hunt on opposition business property in Makurdi, Benue State capital.

Tivta made the allegation against the backdrop of the demolition of VERLUSH RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE, a business premises said to be duly approved by the Benue State Urban Development Board and owned by Dr. Emmanuel Shior a former Executive Secretary Benue State Emergency Management Agency, BSEMA, carried out last night 21st November, 2025 in Makurdi on the direct orders of the Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Iormem Alia.

Tivta said that the Governor had personally visited the Business premises, pointed at the structure, and instructed that the structure should be brought down in 30 minutes.

According to him, consequently, just 10 minutes after he (the Governor) left, officials of the Benue State Urban Development Board arrived with heavily armed security personnel and bulldozers and immediately commenced demolition without any notice, explanation, or opportunity to salvage property.

He said, “the staff of the Restaurant were not allowed to remove a single item. Equipment, furniture, documents, and goods were completely destroyed as the bulldozers moved in.

“It is highly suspicious that other businesses along the same lane including Star Shawarma were left untouched, clearly indicating selective enforcement and a deliberate attempt to target Dr. Shior as a member of the opposition and a PDP aspirant for Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency.

“To this moment, no official reason has been provided by the state government or the Urban Development Board for the action.

At a time when insecurity is ravaging Benue State, with countless communities under attack and citizens living in fear, we are deeply concerned that state government has chosen to deploy state power, security operatives, and government machinery to harass political opponents rather than protect the lives of the people they swore to serve.

“We strongly condemn this unlawful, vindictive, and undemocratic action, which represents a grave abuse of state authority and a disturbing attempt to intimidate members of the opposition.

We call on well-meaning Nigerians, civil society organisations, democratic institutions, and the international community to take note of this growing pattern of state-sponsored intimidation in Benue State.

“We remain committed to seeking legal redress and defending the principles of justice, democracy, and the rule of law”.

Responding to the demolition, the Acting General Manager, Benue State Urban Development Board Ternongo Mede insisted that notice was served on the management of the hotel on 20th November, 2025, adding ‘we went and marked the place, served them demolition and marked the place for demolition’ .

Mede said on the day of demolition the Governor was passing there and he noticed that a tree was cut down, maintaining that these trees were planted by the state government during Akume’s period by Ogiri Ajene to beautify the town and people have been hacking them down.