The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume has assured Benue people of the deployment of more security forces to end the incessant attacks on Benue communities by suspected armed herdsmen.
Senator Akume stated this on Tuesday, 17th June, when he visited Yelwata, the scene of last Friday heinous attack on a Benue community that left hundreds killed. He reiterated the same thing at the Makurdi International Market, a ground for displaced persons in the state, when he visited.
He is in the state ahead of the visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT), who is coming “to foster peace and address the persistent conflict affecting communities in the state.”
The SGF was accompanied by the Honourable Minister for Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev; Senators Titus Zam and Emmanuel Udende; Chief Jack Gyado, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice Chief Michael Aondoakaa, SAN; former Minister for Agriculture Chief Audu Ogbe; former Military Administrator Gen Atom Kpera (retd) among others.
Sen Akume, with his team who also visited the victims of the attacks at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital Makurdi, said the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration was concerned about the continued attacks on Benue communities and has directed security agencies to end the carnage.
While sympathising with the families of those who lost loved ones in the attacks, the SGF appealed to them not to be weighed down saying God who saved the people of Israel in the hands of Adolf Hitler was still alive and will not allow his children to perish.
Senators Zam, Chief Ogbe, Chief Gyado and Sen Suswam, in expressing their sympathies called for unity of purpose to defeat “the enemy and return permanent peace to the state.”
Community leaders have appealed for establishment of more security formations in the area. Chief Bernard Dawa who spoke on behalf of the Yelwata community, particularly appealed for the establishment of a Mobile Police Barack in the area and deployment of additional troops to confront the killers.
