Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, has declared that his administration would no longer have the patience to continue with the hands of fellowship extended to criminals in the state.
Consequently, he stated that he has ordered full military intervention that will tackle the insecurity in the troubled Ukum Local Goverment Area of the state.
Governor Alia gave the declaration in his broadcast to the people of the state on Thursday night over the crisis that rocked Ukum LGA a day earlier.
It will be recalled that Ukum LGA erupted in a crisis on Tuesday when some local militias killed people at Ayati village in the council followed by a violent protest that led to the destruction of personal and government properties worth hundreds of millions of naira.
Following the crisis, Governor Alia declared a curfew in the affected local government.
While addressing the people of the state, on Thursday, the governor said his government was intensifying efforts to collaborate with the security agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice.
He further said that his administration will soon set up a commission of enquiry to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the mayhem.
The governor commiserated with security men who sustained an injury while keeping the peace during the violent protest.
According to him, “The mayhem caused by these heinous acts of violence has not gone unnoticed and I stand with you in condemning these atrocities.
“Full military intervention has been ordered. My heart goes out to the three soldiers and two police officers who were wounded in the line of duty protecting the lives and properties of citizens in Sakara. I am happy to report they have all been treated and discharged.
“I had earlier in the day directed the Deputy Governor, who had visited and carried out an on-the-spot assessment of the scenes of these devastating destructions.
“However, let me make it clear that while we empathize with the pain and frustration felt, we must channel our energies towards constructive actions. Destruction of public property and chaos only serves to compound our challenges and divert resources that could be better used to address the root causes of these issues.
“My administration is unwavering in its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all residents of Benue State. We are intensifying our efforts in collaborating with security agencies to bring the perpetrators of these violent and criminal acts to justice.
“Already, we have started getting positive results. We are also working on preventive measures to ensure such an incident does not reoccur, now or in future.
“Let us not allow the actions of a few to destabilize us. We will not sit back and allow anyone or a group to frustrate the peace of the State and destabilize the government of Benue State.”
Alia further said, “Let me for the last time extend our hands of fellowship to all our youths who have chosen to reside in the forests and continually launch attacks on innocent citizens that my government has run out of patience and shall no longer guarantee the olive leaf branch extended to them.
“To this end, our government will in the next few days, set up a commission of enquiry to investigate the remote and immediate causes of this mayhem.
“Additionally, more actions will be taken to demonstrate my unwavering commitment to bringing these retrogressive activities to a total end.”
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