Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has announced the formation of a committee to investigate the recent destruction of the Gwer West Local Government Secretariat, the Ter-Tyoshin palace, and several private properties in Naka town.
The governor made this known on Thursday during a visit to the affected areas, where he assessed the extent of the damage reportedly caused by protesters reacting to persistent herdsmen attacks in the region.
Condemning the acts of destruction, Alia urged residents to trust his administration’s ongoing efforts to address the security crisis. He assured the people of his government’s commitment to restoring peace and preventing further violence. The governor also issued a stern warning against any individuals collaborating with external aggressors, emphasizing that they would face the full weight of the law.
During the visit, Ter-Tyoshin, Chief Daniel Abomtse, described the attack on his palace as a deliberate act of sabotage. He claimed that certain individuals had hijacked the protests to execute a criminal agenda aimed at discrediting the government. Abomtse questioned the authenticity of the protest, pointing out that the demonstrators neither carried placards nor voiced their grievances in a conventional manner.
“Corpses are normally taken to mortuaries, not government offices or palaces,” Abomtse said, expressing skepticism over the true motives behind the attack. He commended Governor Alia for his prompt response and called on the government to identify and prosecute those responsible.
Meanwhile, Christiana Gbagbul, a staff member of the Gwer West Local Government, and Nyiuma Nicholas, the Commander of the Benue State Civil Protection Guard in the area, accused the military of complicity in the attacks. They called for the redeployment of military personnel from the area, insisting that internal security matters should be handled by the police.
The recent unrest has further intensified calls for improved security measures in Benue State, as residents continue to grapple with attacks linked to armed herdsmen. The newly formed investigative committee is expected to unearth the root causes of the crisis and provide recommendations to prevent future occurrences.
