Tag: Benue state

…Alia appeals for calm, vows to end attacks in Kwande

Following a series of attacks and killings of innocent farmers in Kwande communities by suspected herdsmen, women in Jato Aka town, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, staged a peaceful protest on Saturday.

A community leader, Lawrence Akerigba, stated that the protest was aimed at expressing their concerns over the persistent killings of residents by suspected armed herdsmen.

Jato Aka, located in Turan ward of Kwande LGA, has witnessed repeated attacks over the past month, leading to the deaths of several farmers.

The inhabitants of Turan ward have reportedly abandoned their ancestral settlements for over 17 years due to sustained violence.

The protesting women, many of whom are Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), marched around a military truck park and the deserted Jato Aka market, the hometown of the late Minister of Power and Steel Development, Paul Unongo.

Kwande LGA is widely regarded as the ancestral home of the Tiv Nation in Benue State.

Chanting songs and waving green leaves, the women called on the Federal Government to intervene in the worsening humanitarian crisis.

Their demands included immediate government action to halt the killings, a thorough investigation into the crisis, and an increased security presence in the affected communities to prevent further attacks.

They also appealed for urgent humanitarian aid for IDPs who have been displaced by the prolonged violence.

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“The army deployed are currently residing in Jato aka main market should be redeploy to the affected community of Turan were these killings are going on daily basis and not to stay in Jato Aka Market harrassing the IDPs”.

Jato-Aka and Sankera: Alia Sues for Calm, Promises Improved Response to Security Situation.

Meanwhile, Governor Hyacinth Alia has urged the people of Kwande Local Government Area, particularly the protesting women, to remain calm as his administration intensifies efforts to restore peace in the region.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Kulas Tersoo, the governor expressed deep concern over the continued attacks on Kwande communities by armed herdsmen. He questioned why Kwande and Ukum have become recent targets despite relative peace being recorded in other parts of the state.

Governor Alia assured the people of Kwande and Ukum of his government’s swift and decisive response, condemning the attackers and their collaborators as perpetrators of “remorseless barbarism” whose reign of terror will soon end.

“I share your pains, and I assure you that we will step up our response promptly. Read my lips—the remorseless barbarity of these assailants and their sponsors will soon be a thing of the past,” he vowed.

Reaffirming his commitment to Kwande, Ukum, and the entire state, the governor insisted that his government has never abandoned the affected communities and will continue to protect them. He pledged to rid Benue State of armed herdsmen attacks.

Governor Alia also sympathized with victims of the recent violence and urged security agencies to intensify their efforts in apprehending those responsible.

He also warned individuals attempting to exploit his name to incite controversy in Kwande and other parts of the state, cautioning them against actions that could disrupt peace. He reiterated his commitment to serving all Benue residents, particularly the vulnerable.

There seems to be no end in sight to the dispute triggered by the suspension of Benue Chief Judge of Benue State Justice Maurice Ikpambese.

Yesterday, the embattled Chief Judge alleged that the state moved against his because he rejected to do the bidding of the state government in the appointment of local government election petitions tribunal judges.

According to him, the government descended on him after he rejected a request to appoint preferred judges who will favour the government at the tribunal.

But the government, through reacting the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Kulas Tersoo, dismissed Justice Ikpambese’s allegations.

The CPS told the Judge to clear himself of alleged financial impropriety and tampering with the Local Government Law after its passage by the House of Assembly and accented to by Governor Hyacinth Alia.

Justice Ikpambese, who spoke in viral video, claimed that “he was almost killed in the office the day two trips of  sharp sands  were dropped to blocked the entrance to the High Court Complex but God safe him”.

Speaking in Tiv dialect to his audience, the Chief Judge said: “They are using funds for development in the state to fight me; but they will fail because the people in Abuja (NJC) are behind me.

“There is hunger in the land; so, if you give some people money, they can do anything. But I assure you that I have done nothing and nothing will happen to me.”

Dismissing Justice Ikpambese’s claims in statement, Tersoo said: “Ikpambase’s political outing fails to address serious allegations of corruption and misconduct against him.

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“We watched with utmost disappointment a viral video on social media wherein the embattled Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpambase tried unsuccessfully to divert the attention of unsuspecting worshipers and by extension, the people of the state from the grievous allegations leveled against him necessitating the Benue State House of Assembly to pass a resolution allowing Governor Hyacinth Alia to remove him as the Chief Judge.

“Though it is very curious for a Judicial Officer of his standing to take to the gallery to publicly peddle falsehood and implore the use of blackmail against the administration of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia in defence of the recent action by the Benue State House of Assembly, the fact that Justice Ikpambase chose to speak publicly on the matter speaks volumes of the kind of judicial officer that he is.

“Justice Ikpambese went further in that video to expose himself when he stated that he actually selected justices that will be difficult for “them”. Wow!! This is indeed a confession as the saying goes: ‘…from the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh’

“Granted that Justice Ikpambase is entitled to express himself freely, it is baffling that instead of speaking to the very weighty allegations of misappropriation and mismanagement of the budgetary allocation and finances of the Benue State Judiciary to the tune of over N600m, abuse of office by issuing a directive to overturn the Benue State Electoral Law passed by the Benue State House of Assembly and assented to by the Governor of the State and engagement with politicians and political office holders for favorable judicial outcomes, he went on to mislead, misinform and deceive his listeners to weep up cheap sympathy.”

The Benue State Government has taken a significant step to bolster security in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across the state, by deploying over 5,000 Civil Protection Guards to work alongside Nigerian security agencies.

Governor Hyacinth Alia made this announcement on Thursday at the Old Banquet Hall of the Government House in Makurdi during a meeting with the Chief of Mission of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Paola Pace; the Head of the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operation (ECHO), Alexander Castello; and their delegation.

The governor highlighted the alarming scale of displacement in the state, revealing that since 2018, over 1.5 million people have been forced to flee their ancestral homes due to communal crises. This, he said, has made Benue State home to the largest number of IDPs in North-Central Nigeria.

Governor Alia explained that more than 500,000 displaced persons currently reside in 26 camps spread across 185 host communities in the state. He lamented the harsh living conditions they endure, which include inadequate shelter, limited access to clean water, sanitation, healthcare services, and a lack of robust protection mechanisms. These challenges, he said, demand collective and innovative solutions.

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To address these issues, Governor Alia reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to tackling the root causes of displacement and fostering sustainable solutions. He disclosed several interventions, including: enrolling over 6,000 vulnerable individuals from 15 IDP camps into the Benue State Health Insurance Scheme to ensure access to healthcare; allocating 70 hectares of land for the construction of dignified homes for IDPs, which would accommodate over 5,000 displaced households through the support of development partners; and empowering host communities with resources and social services to promote harmony and alleviate tensions resulting from the influx of IDPs.

Despite these efforts, the governor expressed concern over continued attacks on communities, citing a recent assault that affected over 1,000 households.

The IOM Chief of Mission, Pace reiterated her organisation’s commitment to alleviating the suffering of IDPs in Benue. She emphasised the importance of building a nation where no one is oppressed. Similarly, ECHO Head Alexander Castellano commended Nigerians for their resilience and pledged support for the welfare of IDPs through funding initiatives.