Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia has declared total curfew in Ukum Local Goverment Area of the state.
The curfew which commenced at 3 pm on Wednesday till 3 pm on Thursday will reverse from 6 pm to 6 am every day from Thursday until further notice.
According to the deputy governor, Sam Ode who represented the governor at a press briefing in Makurdi on Wednesday, the curfew arose as a result of the protest by some youths leading to the burning down of the local government secretariat in Zaki Biam, headquarters of Ukum local government.
He said, “The Government of Benue State was surprised with the grave security situation in Ukum LGA of the state which has led to the breakdown of law and order. Leading to wanton destruction of government property and threats to lives.
“Arising from this situation and the need to protect the lives and property of all Benue citizens especially those who are in the Ukum LGA and Sankera general area the Gov of Benue State. Gov Hyacient Alia whom I have the honour to represent at this press briefing has directed that with effect from 3 pm today 3/7/2024.
“There will be a curfew in and around Ukum for 24hrs today, 3 pm to tomorrow 3 pm. Thereafter, the curfew will be from 6 pm to 6 am daily until further notice.”
Tribune Online had earlier gathered that youths in their numbers had stormed Ayati -Sai road in the local government blocked the road to protest incessant killings in the area.
The youths were said to have conveyed dead bodies of their colleagues killed Tuesday night and invaded the council secretariat in Zaki Biam, headquarters of Ukum LGA and set it ablaze to express their displeasure over what they described as government lackadaisical attitude towards insecurity in the local government.
Tribune Online learnt that Wednesday’s protest was triggered by the killing of 11 people Tuesday night by local bandits.
According to a local source, “There is hardly a day we don’t experience killings and kidnapping in this council, unfortunately, the state government has not shown any seriousness to tackle these daily killings.
“Tuesday night, these bandits invaded Ayati village and killed several people, as at the time youths recovered 11 corpses it triggered angst and subsequently stormed the road and protested the killing.
“Some of the youths also went to the council secretariat with the recovered corpses to vent their anger and smatched windows and destroyed things there.”
However, the chairman of Ukum LGA, Victor Iorzaa said he was not in a position to speak on the incident when our correspondent called him.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene confirmed the protest to our correspondent but said she was yet to get the cause of the protest.
Meanwhile, the state government also confirmed the protests and killings in Ukum LGA.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Internal Security, Joseph Har said that bandits were responsible for the killing.
Har said, “Yes, they are protesting because of the killings in the area. We don’t have the details yet but bandits are responsible.
“They are protesting and threatening to burn down the LG Secretariat but they are aware that the state government has dislodged these bandits.
“So what the bandits just did is what we call in security parlance, the last kick of a dying horse.”
The Security Adviser further said, “Just a few days ago, there was massive destruction of their camps in Katsina-Ala. So this is their last kick. They have been dislodged and they are trying everything they can to vent their anger on the armless people and possibly cause confusion in the towns.
“So I have spoken to the leader of the youths and I told them to be patient. The government is going to sustain the momentum. We will not be deterred by the killings but we will sustain the heat and pressure on them so they can be degraded completely.”
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNEÂ
and then