Otukpo massacre: You have 3 days to appoint Security Adviser – Benue Assembly tells Alia

The Benue State House of Assembly has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to Governor Hyacinth Alia to appoint a Special Adviser on Security. This decision comes in response to the alleged inability to contact security agencies promptly during the recent Otukpo bank robbery.

The ultimatum was issued after a motion was presented by Angbo Kennedy, the representative for Otukpo-Akpa State Constituency. Among the motion’s requests were the mandatory maintenance of ledgers on all guests, the installation of CCTV cameras, and an enhancement of security measures in hotels and leisure spots.

Aondona Dajoh, the Speaker of the House, ruled on the motion by giving the governor a three-day deadline to appoint a Security Adviser. This adviser’s role would involve coordinating state security matters in collaboration with security agencies to ensure law and order in the state.

One of the lawmakers, Godwin Edoh, who had survived the Otukpo bank robbery, recounted the traumatic experience and lamented the lack of a substantive Security Adviser, which hindered his ability to reach out to the government during the incident.

According to Edoh, the bank robbery exposed vulnerabilities in the state’s security framework. He described how around 30 armed robbers on motorbikes entered Otukpo town, engaged security personnel at the Otukpo Divisional Police Headquarters, and proceeded to rob multiple commercial banks without any significant resistance for over an hour.

The House of Assembly, in its resolution, strongly condemned the robbery incident and called upon security agencies to promptly investigate the causes of the attack and identify the culprits. Additionally, they proposed the establishment of a trust fund to assist the families and victims of violent attacks across the state with financial support for medical expenses and burials.

Other resolutions included the establishment of another police station in Otukpo township to enhance emergency response, the provision of at least two fully equipped ambulances for all 23 local government areas, and the mandatory maintenance of guest ledgers and surveillance systems in hotels. These measures aim to strengthen security and emergency response in the state.