Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia
By TYAV SAM TYAV, Makurdi –
Benue State Government is establishing a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the recent unrest in Naka, Gwer West Local Government Area of the state.
Governor Hyacinth Alia disclosed this on Thursday in Naka, the headquarters of Gwer West LGA during his visit to the area following a civil unrest that occured on March 11, 2024 during which the Ter Nagi’s Palace and the Local Government Secretariat among several other structures were razed.
While addressing the people of Gwer West at the LG Council Secretariat after assessing the the level of destruction, Governor Alia condemned the act saying there were better ways of projecting their grievances.
The governor, who assured that the state government would do everything possible in collaboration with security agencies to fish out those behind the incident lamenting that Gwer West was experiencing high level of insecurity and does not need such distractions at this critical moment.
According to him the Benue State Government was working assiduously with support from the Federal Government to bring the issue of Fulani herders’ attacks on Benue communities to a permanent end.
While welcoming the Governor to his palace to identify with him and assess the level of destruction, the Ter Nagi, His Royal Highness, Chief Daniel Abomtse, described the incident as highly motivated, meticulously planned and efficiently executed.
The monarch noted that the unrest that occured recently has a tone that is quite different from civil protests. “If those boys were protesting, we didn’t see any placards calling for action from the State Government over any issue. They are a gangster of criminals who had their project oiled by some kingpin somewhere within my domain.”
The traditional ruler lamented that his subjects under certain influence from somewhere rose up one day and set his palace ablaze appealing that the government should dig deep into the root cause of the incident and take necessary action.
In his remarks the Council Chairman of Gwer West Local Government Area, Victor Ormin, confirmed the incident, saying that investigation is ongoing and that some suspects have already been arrested.
