The Governor-Elect, Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has condemned in totality the brutal killings of innocent lives in Umogidi community of Entekpa-Adoka district in Otukpo Local Government Area of the state.
About 46 persons have been reported killed by suspected herdsmen, barely 24 hours after the same village, an Idoma-speaking community in the state, suffered an attack by suspected herdsmen and three persons were killed preparatory to their burial.
Fr. Alia made this condemnation on Friday, April 7, 2023, at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
In a statement by his Deputy- Director of Communications , Donald Kumun, and made available to The Nation, Fr. Alia said he sympathised with the families of the deceased and condoled with them, calling on the Umogidi community and the Benue people as a whole to remain calm and law-abiding amidst their sorrows and pains.
He called on the security agencies to conduct surveillance to identify the perpetrators behind the killings and nip it in the bud for peace to be restored in the communities.
Fr. Alia assured the Umogidi community and others affected by the attacks of his readiness to work with relevant security agencies and communities in the state to stop the senseless killings when he is sworn in as the next governor of the state on May 29, 2023.
He expressed sadness over the killings and called on the government at all levels to be more proactive to quell the insecurity challenges in the state and stay close to the bereaved families in these trying times, saying that his fraternal prayers are with the souls of the deceased to rest in perfect peace, adding that peace should take prominence in the communities, in the interest of all and sundry.
