…condemns destruction of property in Naka
Benue State House of Assembly has summoned Special Adviser to the Governor on External Security and Strategic Liaison as well as that of Internal Security to appear before the House without fail.
Also to appear before the House at the next legislative sitting, is the Special Adviser, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the Director General, State Bureau for Homeland Security.
The House took the decision during plenary on Thursday after the Majority Chief Whip and member representing Katsina-Ala West Constituency, Hon. Peter Ipusu moved a motion on the need for the above mentioned government appointees to brief the House on efforts being made to tackle the killings by armed herders in various communities across the State, particularly Kwande, Gwer West, Logo, Ukum, Katsina Ala Agatu among others.
Hon. Peter Ipusu, stated that the renewed attacks by suspected herdsmen, which started from the last quarter of 2024 till date, have claimed many lives and destroyed villages and property worth billions of naira.
He said, “if a drastic action is not taken to curtail the killings by the armed herders in Benue State and its environs, the situation will degenerate into a war zone, whereby people will be held by the throat and would be gasping for breath to survive.
Seconding the motion, Minority Leader, Hon. Michael Audu and the member representing Apa State Constituency, Hon. Abu Umoru who supported the motion, expressed dismay that despite repeated resolutions of the House calling on these appointees in the state to address the security situations, the attacks have continued unabated.
In his contribution, Majority Leader, Hon. Saater Tiseer stressed the need to accelerate amendment to the local government law to enable council chairmen access funds easily for prompt responses to security issues in their localities
Ruling, the Speaker, Hon. Hyacinth Dajoh put it to a voice vote and members unanimously agreed that the government appointees appear to brief them on the security issues.
Meanwhile, the House has condemned the action of irate protesters which resulted in the destruction of valuable properties in Naka, headquarter of Gwer West Local Government and directed SEMA to provide relief materials and temporary shelters for victims of attacks in Katsina-Ala and Gwer West.
