Benue State Governor, Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has reaffirmed that securing the state remains his top priority, declaring that his administration will not relent until terrorists are driven out of Benue to enable farmers to cultivate their land without fear.
The governor made the declaration during an unscheduled visit to Taraku Mills, an agro-processing plant currently undergoing rehabilitation, where he inspected the progress of maintenance work at the state-owned facility.
Taraku Mills is being revived by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC) as part of the state government’s efforts to restore dormant agro-industrial processing plants to full production.
Governor Alia said the rehabilitation of the mill would establish a robust value chain for soybeans and maize, stimulate agricultural production, create jobs, and further strengthen the state’s economy.
He urged farmers, especially those cultivating soybeans, maize, and groundnuts, to increase production in preparation for the factory’s full resumption of operations after test-running.
The governor stressed that restoring security across the state is essential to achieving his administration’s agricultural and economic goals.
“That is why I am serious and not blinking at all over the issue of insecurity in my state. Terrorists must leave the state. We shall fight them until they leave our state for us. Nobody will take Benue land,” the governor was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula.
