No hunger protest in Benue — Gov Alia

Various groups comprising students, market traders, organised labour, and other civil society groups in Benue State have dissociated themselves from the planned hunger protest.

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, disclosed this to journalists on Sunday after the mass held at the chaplaincy of Government House, Makurdi.

The governor, who appreciated the security chiefs in the state for their efforts to establish a good rapport with various groups, which led to their dissociation from the hunger protest, said that the state, having suffered insecurity in the past, can no longer afford another protest.

Alia stated that Benue has had enough insecurity in the past, recalling the recent violent protest in Ukum LGA of the state, where personal and government properties worth hundreds of millions of naira were destroyed.

According to him, participating in a hunger protest may worsen the fragile peace of the state, as he expressed fear that hoodlums may hijack the protest.

While lamenting the crisis in the Sankera axis and the efforts his administration has made to stop the killings, the governor said, “I was quite excited about the efforts of the Director of State Security Service and the Commissioner of Police in the state, who on their own made efforts and established contact where necessary.

“I am grateful to organised labour in the state, the student union, the market union, and others for being considerate in not participating in any protest that might be hijacked by hoodlums and destabilise our entire peace.

“We are in precarious times, and we are not taking chances. This is why I must emphasise that as a country and a federating unit, we cherish our freedom and liberty. Security must be paramount, and it is my prerogative to protect people’s freedom and liberty. This is why we cannot hold any protest at all in any part of Benue State.”

The governor, who blamed Abuja politicians for the crisis in the Sankera axis, promised to release the names of the perpetrators of the violent protest that rocked Ukum LGA about a month ago