From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has warned that any protest at this time in the State, will trigger and exacerbate the already existing insecurity challenges facing the State.
Governor who said this while speaking with newsmen at the Government House Chapel on Sunday, against the planned #EndHarship nationwide protest, lamented that the State is in a precarious situation and cannot afford to be plunged into deeper ditch.
He said it is commonsensical wisdom for the state not to have any form of protest which might be hijacked by hoodlums and its entire peace will be destabilized.
Said he, “We are in a precarious time and am not taking chances and this is why I had emphasized that as a confederating unit, we cherish our freedoms and liberty but at the same time, there is a fine line, security must be paramount and it is my perogative that I protect their freedom and liberties so this is why we should not hold any protest in any part of Benue State.
“I am quite excited with the Director of DSS and the Commissioner of Police who on their own started making contacts that we must have peace. I remain grateful to labor unions, studentship, market women and everyone in the State for been very considerate not to participate in any protest which at the end of the day, might be hijack by hoodlums”.
The Governor who bemoaned the killings in Ukum local government, decried the brutal manner the bandits murder their own kits and kins and destroy the wealth of the area which is found in the soil.
Hear him, “It is quite sad that the incident in Ukum happened, I describe it as as Octopus, we are talking about a cumulation of every frame and form of insecurity that has come upon the Ukum people.
“During my campaign I told every faceless persons in Zone A,B and C who were creating instability in the State to sheath their sword that a new government was coming in to liberate them, to get them out of the bushes and stop them from killing their siblings and that is what we have been trying to do.”
