Steer clear of Idoma community – Biafra agitators warned

The Executive Chairman of Ado Local Government, Hon. James Oche, has declared that the community shall never play host to Biafra agitators.

Hon. Oche was reacting to the recent alleged hoisting of the defunct Biafa flag in a community in Ado, IDOMA VOICE reports.

The LG boss, however, affirmed that those behind the act of sabotage on the territorial integrity of Ado Local Government and by extension, the state of Benue will be fished and must face the consequences of their actions.

In a statement personally signed, Hon. Oche urged residents of the area to remain calm, peace loving and law abiding as they have always been while his administration makes frantic efforts to bring dividend of democracy to their doorstep.

His statement reads in full.

It has become pertinent to, in the wake of brewing concerns regarding the encroachment of Ado Local Government boarder communities by some criminal elements described as agitators for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) put the records as they ought to be.

It is true that boarder communities of Ado Local Government interact in terms of trade and other social engagements with the boarder communities of Ebonyi State of South Eastern Nigeria.

That despite this social affinity occasioned by geographical placing, there is a deep, understandable and recognized demarcation as to the geographical integrity and community disparity of the land and people of Benue and that of Ebonyi States.

That the people of Benue State and particularly of Ado Local Government under the distinguished leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Samuel Ortom, the Executive Governor of Benue State are not party to any form of agitation for the proscribed Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) and we as the local government authority would defy any such attempt within the ambit of our powers and of the law.

That we note with dismay that, some indigenes of Ado Local Government colluded with and supported the agitators whom we were informed hoisted the Biafran flag at Odoke Market in Ekile community of Ado LGC.  Pertinent it is to say that our prompt reaction supported by the military nipped them in the bud as they hurriedly disassembled the flag and took to their heels upon receiving information that we were coming.

That those behind this act of sabotage on the territorial integrity of Ado Local Government and by extension, the state of Benue will be fished and must face the consequences of their actions.

That we reiterate the firmness of our unwavering support to the administration of His Excellency, Dr. Samuel Ortom and His Deputy, Engr Benson Abounu who are committed to ensuring the safety of the lives and property of Benue People.

We urge our people to remain calm, peace loving and law abiding as they have always been. We similarly urge them to report any form of encroachment on our collective land by criminal elements acting under the style of the proscribed IPOB agitators as well as their internal collaborators to appropriate authorities for prompt action.