,,,,Urges Personal intervention of President Tinubu.
By Ijeoma Obioma in Makurdi.
A spate of gruesome attacks in Benue State has prompted a coalition, the Benue Democratic Ambassadors, to demand an immediate and thorough criminal investigation by the Federal Government.
The coalition raised the alarm during a press briefing in Makurdi, on Friday,decrying what it described as a pattern of coordinated killings and terror across rural communities in the state, with security agencies and the state government allegedly turning a blind eye.
Daniel Pila, the coalition’s National President, expressed grave concern that the violence is marked by killings, land invasions, and the targeting of religious figures.
Among the recent victims,he noted ,is Rev. Fr. Atongo, a Catholic priest, who was attacked.
The organization also cited the attack on Aondona village, the hometown of Catholic Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, who has been outspoken.
“This is no longer just a security issue. These are crimes against humanity “From Otukpo to Kwande, no community is safe. Armed herders have taken over at least 20 of the state’s 23 local government areas, yet the state government remains disturbingly silent,”Pila said.
Pila called on Governor Alia to do something about the dangerous development to ensure return of peace to the state.
The group also called on the Federal Government to dispatch investigators and security operatives to Benue to unravel the forces behind the killings, which they described as deliberate, systematic, and criminal.
“This is no time for politics. “This is about lives being lost, villages being wiped out, and a government that appears either overwhelmed or unwilling to act,”Pila warned.
The coalition further urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene personally, saying the pattern of attacks suggests an organized attempt to destabilize the state and displace indigenous communities through violence.
The group , however, vowed to mobilize citizens to resist what it called a descent into lawlessness and to ensure that those behind the bloodshed are brought to justice.
Edited by Dada Ahmed
