Iorfa Akpen
Governor Hyacinth Alia on Tuesday visited Otukpo to commiserate with residents following deadly attacks by suspected armed herders on Akpachi and Otukpo-Nobi communities, pledging that his administration will not relent until the state is rid of terrorists.
Speaking during the visit, the governor assured Benue people of his determination to safeguard lives and protect ancestral lands.
“It is my obligation to protect all lives in the state and I am assuring we shall never rest on our oars until peace fully return to our communities,” Alia said at the Ochi’Idoma Palace.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies promptly to prevent further attacks.
The governor said his government has provided logistics and morale support to security forces and will continue to complement their efforts. “I will not rest but continue until terrorists are flushed out of the state,” he vowed.
Alia also visited the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo, where victims of the attacks are receiving treatment for various injuries. He directed that the state government cover comprehensive treatment for all those hospitalized.
At the palace, he sympathized with the paramount ruler, His Royal Majesty Agaba’Idu Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji John, over the recent violence in Idomaland.
The attacks on Akpachi and Otukpo-Nobi have heightened concerns about insecurity in parts of Benue, with the state government promising sustained operations to restore normalcy.
