Benue State Governor finally decides to fight
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“Full military intervention has been ordered. My heart goes out to the three soldiers and two police officers who were wounded in the line of duty protecting the lives and properties of citizens in Sakara. I am happy to report they have all been treated and discharged”
The governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia said in a state live broadcast today. He is determined to flush out Bandits in the state, a challenge that hadn’t and won’t be easy.
The military action has long been overdue. The urgency of the move was as a result of protest that followed after the bandits attacked residents of the state.
Problem began on Tuesday, when bandits attacked Ayati Town in Borikyo Council Ward of the LGA of Ukum Local Government Area of the state.
The bandits carried out a terrorist attack that led to the murder of residents of the town in the night. The act caused anger in the town.
The following day, protestors took to the street and allowed anger to boil over. They complained bitterly about being neglected and the government’s failure to act.
“We see the government is keeping quiet because it has not touched everyone. Today (Wednesday) we will make sure it touches everyone” a report had surfaced that Wednesday of the protestors intent.
The protestors subsequently took to the streets and damaged public and private properties. They also torched properties perceived to belong to the government.
The actions of the protestors forced the Governor to arrange emergency state broadcast to address the situation.
The protestors believe the Governor has neglected them. Speaking during the broadcast, the Governor disclosed the efforts he has made so far.
“Since the advent of our administration, several efforts have been put in place to eliminate the activities of bandits” the governor said to reassure residents that he has been working hard to tame the insecurity ravaging the state.
“Consequently, the combined efforts of our security agencies pushed back some bandit from their handout outs and subsequently neutralized two bandits, recovered seven motorcycle, two English pistols, a Toyota camry, and commercial tricycle and lots of charms”
The Governor said the actions and decisive blows given to the bandits led to the what he called “reprisal”.
“As a reprisal, some bandits hit some soft targets and killed six civilians at Ayati, believing that the members of the Ayati community were responsible for giving information on their operations and locations and handouts.
He also said that he understands that people have the right to be angry, but conceded that the very bandits that caused the mayhem hijacked the protest.
Governments in Nigeria are always fond of accusing protest of being hijacked each time there is extreme anger.
“This led to an initial protest of anger and frustration of family members and women regarding the killings of their loved ones on the Ayati-Sai road down to Sankera, understandable. I have heard the genuine cries of those aggrieved families.
“Regrettably, these peaceful protests were hijacked by bandits and miscreants who had carefully planned to undertake and unleash mayhem on businesses and peace-loving people of Sankera.
“I assure you that I have listened. The mayhem caused by these heinous acts of violence has not gone unnoticed and I stand with you in condemning these atrocities”
Banditry has become a flourishing business in Nigeria, while most bandits believe in kidnapping for money, some involve in terrorism.
In Benue State, bandits have had upper hand without facing staunch push back from the Nigerian forces.
The decision to finally unleash the military on the bandits has been criticised as coming late.
