Benue govt beefs up security in troubled Buruku local government

BENUE State government has said that security  has been beefed up in the troubled Buruku local government area of the  State.

This followed the attack on Mkgovur community in the council area on Saturday which led to seven persons killed.

But police through the command spokesperson, ASP Moses Yamu, who had earlier said one person was killed, told our correspondent on Sunday that the death toll had risen to four.

The special adviser on security to governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Colonel Edward Jando  retired made the disclosure in a statement on Sunday  saying  already the reinforcements have arrived their destination.

He stated that his office received reports of the killing of five persons yesterday, including a tax collector, whose bodies have been recovered in the area.

The Special Adviser said the Governor condemned the attacks and expressed his regrets as well as extended his condolences of the Governor to the families of the deceased and prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

According to the statement issued by media adviser to governor Ortom, Mr Tahav Argezua, assured that necessary measures have been put in place to forestall the escalation of the crises adding that security personnel already deployed to several parts of the state including Logo, Ukum, Katsina-Ala, Tarka, Gwer, Gwer West and Agatu have been put on alert to embark on patrols to check security threa.

The Special Adviser stated that the security operatives have also received instructions to track and arrest the attackers.

Colonel Jando appealed to sole administrators yet to set up security committees at the kindred and ward levels to do so immediately so that the committees would help in tackling the challenge.

The security adviser enjoined individuals, communities and stakeholders not to resort to self-help under provocation but to rather report infringements on their rights to security committee chairmen, traditional rulers, sole administrators or his office for prompt intervention.

He said the directive that anyone caught with illegal arms should be arrested and prosecuted still subsist and urged all parties in the crisis to take note.