Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom yesterday declared his determination to chase criminals, especially armed robbers and kidnappers, from the state.
He spoke when members of the Executive Committee of Mdzough U Tiv, a socio-cultural organisation, visited him at the Benue Peoples House in Makurdi.
The governor said: “These criminals pose a threat to residents and investments, since no investor will be willing to invest in an insecure environment.”
He said he would collaborate with the conventional security apparatus, traditional rulers, youths and civilian joint task force to use the carrot and stick approach to drive away criminals.
Ortom said he was happy that the peace-building efforts between Tiv farmers and Fulani herdsmen had started yielding results, with the two groups signing a peace accord in Logo Local Government.
He enjoined the people to live peacefully to create what he described as a new Benue.