Benue News Summary – Tuesday, February 20, 2024

1. Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia has claimed that the influx of herdsmen into Benue State was a result of the invitation by some Benue indigenes to Fulani herdsmen in Niger Republic to come and graze in the state.

Governor Alia stated this on Sunday after a Mass at the Chapel of Grace in the Government House, Makurdi while reacting to the large influx of herders into Benue State.

2. Hundreds of youths drawn from Otukpo, the host community of the Federal University of Health Sciences, in Benue State on Monday protested against what they term as ‘acts of nepotism’ and high tuition fees in the new university.

The youths, under the aegis of the Otukpo Redemption Movement, the Otukpo Youth Forum and the Otukpo Accountability Forum began their protest at Edikwu Junction, opposite the former Otukpo Stadium, and marched through the stretch of three kilometres to the gate of the university at Otada and disrupted academic activities.

3. Suspected armed herdsmen have reportedly gone beserk in Apa, Kwande and Guma Local Government Areas of Benue State, killing 10 persons and injuring several others.

It was gathered that the herders, who had invaded several Benue communities with thousands of cattle since the coming of the dry season, relentlessly attacked Ubele, Ochumekwu, Adija, Kano and Ijaha in Apa LGA in the last three days.

4. The Senator Abba Moro, APC, Benue South, has refuted allegations by Governor Hyacinth Alia that he has a hand in the insecurity bedevilling the state.

Alia had specifically accused Moro and a member of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, of sponsoring the insecurity in Benue State in a bid to destabilise his government.

In a press release, Moro stated that he had advised against the dissolution of the democratically elected councils in Benue State, an action he described as unconstitutional.

5. The Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District and Senate Minority Leader, Comrade Abba Moro PhD on Monday urged Apa/Agatu youths to be vigilant and prepared to defend their land against external aggressors, assuring them of his support and that of other leaders.

Senator Moro gave this charge on Monday at Ugbokpo in Apa LGA where he interfaced with aggrieved youths who had earlier protested against the killings in Apa/Agatu by blocking the Otukpo-Owote-Abuja Federal Road last week Monday.