By Chiangi Avese, Makurdi
The Chief Press Secretary to the Benue state governor, Sir Tersoo Kula, has frowned at the claims by the PDP spokesman that His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has a policy of keeping silent over the activities of terrorists in the state.
In statement made available to The AUTHORITY in Makurdi Sunday, Sir Kula. said it is uncharitable for the PDP spokesperson to insinuate that, “the governor is aiding and abetting such crimes by his silence”.
“Let it be known that addressing the security challenges and ridding the state of criminal elements is one thing the Governor is taking seriously”, Sir Kula said.
The statement pointed out that, “though Gov. Alia was out of the state when the incident on Makurdi-Naka road occurred, he had directed one of his Advisers, Chief Joseph Har, who promptly visited Benue Links Limited headquarters to commiserate with the management and to get details of the incident”.
The General Manager of the Company, Mr. Alexander Fanafa, acknowledged that one person was killed during the attack, while others sustained injuries. He explained that the pictures in circulation were not from the scene of yesterday’s incident, but an earlier one.
The statement further said, “the Adviser thereafter proceeded to the scene of the attack where he had firsthand information from soldiers of the 72 Battalion Makurdi who were deployed to the background, after which, he also visited the palace of HRH Daniel Abomtse, to pay homage and to also extend the Governor’s sincere sympathy and condemnation of the act. All these were done immediately the Governor got wind of the attack”.
“Gov. Alia must not always come out to organize press conferences and cry on cameras before the PDP will accept that he is making efforts. You don’t talk or cry over security issues as was the case in the past 8 years. A responsive leader acts proactively. This is what Governor Hyacinth Alia is busy doing at the moment”.
Just on Tuesday, October 10th, 2023, Exercise Enduring Peace III, which is a joint security exercise aimed at addressing the various security challenges facing Benue State and by extension, the entire nation, was launched in Tyodugh, a community in Makurdi Local government area of the State.
Governor Alia, during the flag off ceremony of the exercise, called on Benue people to support the government and the security agencies with useful information that will aid in rooting out criminal elements disturbing the peace of the state.
The Governor had expressed confidence that with the flag off of the exercise and the other joint efforts of other security agencies, the criminals operating in the state will be flushed out.
“There was no word of commendation from the Benue PDP about this great security step by the government, the same way the party kept quiet when Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Hon. Mathew Aboh, got released from his abductors, result of intensive efforts of the state government and security agencies”.
