Benue State Governor, Fr. Hyacinth Alia has vowed that the state will not bow to fear.
The governor, who made this known in an address to the people of the state following coordinated attacks by armed herdsmen, assured that “We will rise, rebuild, and remain unshaken.”
There has been a resurgence of killings by armed herdsmen in farming communities in Otukpo, Kwande, Agatu, Gwer West, Logo, and Ukum Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue State.
Dozens have been killed this week alone, with the governor saying those killed “are fathers, mothers, children, brothers, and sisters whose lives were cut short by senseless violence.”
Hundreds of lives have been cut short since that black 2018 New Year’s Day, when a coordinated attack by armed herdsmen left over 78 persons killed and dozens of others with various degrees of injury in Guma and Logo LGA.
Although violent attacks on farming communities in the state by armed herdsmen date back to over a decade, the 2018 New Year’s Day attack was described as a “sad phase” in the history of herders’ attacks on the people of the state.
Fr. Alia, in the address, emphasised that security operatives were working tirelessly, assuring that “We are not backing down. We remain committed to protecting every Benue life and will continue to work relentlessly to restore peace and order to our communities.”
He, therefore, appealed to the people to “speak up (when they see suspicious movement). Share information with our security agencies. Help us fish out the perpetrators of these evil acts. Our strength lies in our unity.”
