Protect Benue residents or step down – APC guber aspirant tells Alia

Mathias Terwase Byuan, former Executive Director of Housing Finance and Accounts at the Federal Housing Authority and a governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, has called on Governor Hyacinth Alia to safeguard the lives and properties of residents or resign from office.

Byuan condemned the recent attacks on residents of Mbalom in Gwer East Local Government Area by suspected herdsmen and pledged that he would tackle criminal activities decisively if elected governor.

Speaking through Akange Nyagba, Director of Media for the DMB Governorship Campaign Organisation, Byuan emphasized that protecting citizens from both internal and external threats would be his foremost priority in 2027.

He further asserted that incidents involving herdsmen attacks would be addressed firmly.

In a press statement issued yesterday, Nyagba quoted Byuan: “Dr Mathias Terwase Byuan has condemned the recent killing of innocent citizens by armed herdsmen in Mbalom, Gwer East local government of Benue State.”

Reacting to the Easter Sunday attack, which claimed dozens of lives, the aspirant expressed disappointment that repeated assaults on Benue communities continue unchecked. He criticized the current administration for failing to protect the people, stating that it does not deserve another mandate.

Dr Byuan reminded the Alia-led government that its primary role is to ensure the safety of citizens and their properties, and challenged it to meet this responsibility or step aside.

He added, “The topmost governorship aspirant consoled the families that were affected in the pogrom, assuring them that it is for the sake of the security situation in Benue that he resigned his appointment with the Federal Housing Authority to come to their rescue.”