By Chiangi Avese, Makurdi
Benue State Police Command has confirmed the receipt of information on protest by irate youths in Naka, Gwer-West local government area where the Secretariat of the council, Palace of the paramount ruler, the Ter-Nagi, HRH. Chief Daniel Abomtse and the home of the Senator representing Benue North-West, Dr. Titus Zam was set ablaze.
Also, the homes of a former commissioner for works in the state, Engr. Felix Atume, and former Majority Leader in the Benue State House of Assembly were said to have been touched.
An eyewitness, Mr. John Iorfa, told The AUTHORITY that, “a large number of youths were ireful when bodies of people alleged to have been murdered from suspected herdsmen attacks were conveyed to Naka from the hinterland”.
“The consistent persistence in the attacks on communities by the invading herders always resulting to deaths people and destructions of properties may have been the reason for the protest”, Mr. Iorfa said.
Many of the locales from Gwer-West local government area are said to have been in Internally Displaced People’s ,IDP, camps for over ten years now. Respite came early this year when the State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem moved to return them to their ancestral homes.
Things went out of hands Monday when more bodies were evacuated from an attacked area. The youths then moved the dead bodies to the council Secretariat from where, they became uncontrollable.
Feelers around Naka town indicated that, the people were particularly infuriated by the silence of their political and paramount ruler for the continuous atrocities been visited on them.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the Benue State Command, ACP Sewuese Anene said, “information has been received about the protest in Naka and that the Commissioner of Police had moved to the area with other tactical teams”.
