Alia condemns resurgent attacks on Benue communities
By Bridget Ikyado
April 8,2023
The Benue State, Governor-Elect, Rev Fr Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia has condemned the unprovoked attacks and brutal killings of innocent and unarmed Benue citizens by gunmen suspected to be herders.
Assailants attacked Mgban and Udei Communities of Nyiev, Guma Local Government area of Benue State in the early hours of Saturday, April 08, 2023, killing 35 persons including two Sons of the District head of Nyiev Zaki Shawa.
This is contained in a statement by Isaac Uzaan,Media Aide to the Governor-Elect
Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia on Saturday.
According to the statement this is coming few hours after gunmen launched attack on Umogidi Community in Enetekpa, Adoka district of Otukpo local government killing 46 persons following a previous attack on the same Community that claimed three lives.
Fr. Alia expressed discontent over the resurgence of the mindless and insensitive attacks on Benue communities and the gruesome murder in cold blood of innocent citizens including those under destitute conditions in makeshift camps created for Internally Displaced Persons.
He regretted that such heinous and barbaric act has to continue during the Holy Week and in the still of the euphoria that greeted his victory and that of other candidates in the recent Gubernatorial and state Assembly elections in the state.
While praying God to allow His peace to soak in the deepest part of the minds of those whose relatives were slained by the assailants, Fr. Alia expressed the hope that the weeping Benue people have long endured will soon come to pass, just as he called on the security agencies in the state to rise up to the challenge of securing lives and property of Benue citizens.
He, however, prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed and also called on other victims of the attacks to entrust their wounded hearts, their fears and feelings of disappointment and frustration to God,who alone has a permanent solution to their problem.