From TERESE TUHWA Makurdi
Determined to do away with rising cases of crime in Benue State, the state government has given a matching order to criminals to relocate out of the state or face dire consequences.
The Governor, Rev Father Dr Hyacinth Alia, who gave the order through his adviser on security and strategic liaison, Col Alexander Igbaya Ashungu in Makurdi recently, disclosed that the state government would not spare anyone found perpetrating criminal activities.
“Any member of the public who suspects any false movement, gathering and unauthorized persons bearing arms, particularly in our rural forest, should report immediately for investigation and further actions,” he said.
He added that the state government has been working round the clock to ensure that the state was safe for inhabitants and businesses.
“As we speak, a number of kidnapped victims have been rescued and we are going after those perpetrating the crime in the state.
He commended the state Governor, Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia for placing security of lives and property on his priority list and acknowledged the good work the police and Armed Forces were doing to maintain security and peace in the state.
The security adviser who lamented the upsurge in kidnapping and herdsmen attacks in the country, said the state government has released telephone numbers to the public to give information to the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security if such cases occurred.
The phone numbers as released by the adviser are 08115780499,09021991445 and 08132111854.
It could be recalled that Governor Hyacinth Alia recently appealed for the release of the Caretaker Chairman of Ukum Local Government Council, Rev. Gideon Haanongon and three others who have been kidnapped.
Rev. Haanongon was kidnapped with his orderly, driver and personal assistant on their way to attend the burial of a traditional ruler, Chief Fezanga Wombo who passed on recently.
Speaking hours after the incident, Governor Alia called for immediate unconditional release of the trio and decried the killings and kidnappings in the area.
The governor called on both serving and former lawmakers as well as other prominent persons from the area known as Sankara to proffer lasting solutions to insecurity in their area with a promise to implement their recommendations.
Governor Alia also urged traditional leaders in the area to join in seeking solutions into security challenges. He said his administration was determined to return peace not only to Logo, Ukum and Katsina-Ala LGAs but to the entire state.
