INSECURITY: BENUE NASS CAUCUS TO ADDRESS WORLD PRESS CONFERENCE TUESDAY

Barring any last minute change in plans, the Benue State Caucus in the National Assembly is set to hold a World Press Conference on the insecurity in the State on Tuesday, October 24,2023.

In a leaked notice sent to members of Benue Caucus in the Senate and House of Representatives, signed by the spokesman of the Benue Caucus of the National Assembly, Dr(Chief) Philip Agbese, who is the member representing Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency of Benue State, the members intend to address the world on the renewed insecurity in the state.

According to a source close to a member of the Benue NASS caucus, former governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom worked closely with members of the National Assembly from the State in tackling the security challenges in the State.

But Governor Alia instead of working with them, has drawn a battle line between those loyal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu/ the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume and those with him(SGF).

The NASS members from Benue State are angry that the state is under siege, the Alia administration has no security blueprint and has failed to appoint a Security Adviser who will liase with heads of security agencies to drive the Governor’s security road map.

Recall that Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State had over a week ago while addressing newsmen at the villa claimed that Benue was experiencing relative peace since he assumed office.

In response, many Benue citizens took to the social media condemning the governor for not presenting the true situation on ground, stating recent cases of herdsmen attacks in local governments such as Gwer West, Guma, Makurdi, Logo, Ukum, amongst others.

Some also mentioned the activities of local bandits in the state, which recently saw the kidnapping of the Benue State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mathew Abo, who was kidnapped in his country home in Zaki-Biam, Ukum local government and was in captivity for almost two weeks before his release.

It will also be recalled that the member representing Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency of Benue State, Acr. Asema Achado and the Senator representing Benue North- West Senatorial district, Senator Titus Zam, few weeks ago drew the attention of the nation to the renewed insecurity in the state, which had led many citizens living in internally displaced camps, IDPs and unable to go to their farms.

Just yesterday, gunmen attacked in Police station killing policemen on duty, and went on to attack rob four commercial banks(Zenith, UBA, First Bank and Stanbic),all in Otukpo, leading to the loss of several innocent lives.