Gov. Alia urges kidnappers to release caretaker Chair, others

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has urged the abductors of the Caretaker committee chairman of Ukum Local Government Council, Reverend Gideon Haanongon and three others to release them with immediate effect, pointing out that the Government is ready to engage them to be useful in the society, if they refrain from criminal activities.
Rev. Gideon was kidnapped alongside his personal assistant on Administration Silas Ior Yuhwam, his driver and policer officer attached to him in early hours of Saturday around Anyagba, Tongov, Katsina-Ala local government area on his way to the burial of Ter Katsina-Ala Chief Benjamin Fezaanga Wombo, father to Hon. Solomon Wombo, House of Representatives Member for Ukum/Katsina-Ala/Logo Federal Constituency
Governor Hyacinth Alia who gave the advice while delivering a funeral oration of Ter Katsina-Ala, Chief Benjamin Fezaanga Wombo at the Akume Atongo stadium, decried the lingering spate of killings and kidnappings in the area by bandits which he said cannot be condoned any longer.
The Governor therefore, called on all sons of Sankera political bloc to converge for a meeting to ensure lasting peace returned to the area.
The Governor also, urged the traditional leaders in the axis to do the same, pointing out that his administration was determined to ensure that peace returns not only to Logo, Ukum and Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas but to the entire state.
According to him, “both serving and former Senators, House of Representatives Members as well as other prominent sons in Sankera have been urged to convene an emergency meeting tomorrow Sunday 12 January to proffer lasting solutions to the insecurity situation in the area and forward the same to him for immediate implementation”.
Governor Alia condoled the family of Wombo over the demise of their father and urged them to be consoled in the fact that he lived a fulfilled life.