We’re engaging bandits to curtail security challenges in Benue — Gov Alia’s aide

Special Adviser to Benue State Governor Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia on security and Internal affairs, Joseph Har has assured the people of the state of government’s determination to tackle the security challenges in the state.

Speaking to newsmen in Makurdi on Wednesday, Har said that the state governor had started taking steps in order to address the security challenges.

According to him, the government had begun to engage local bandits to embrace peace and come out of the forest.

Har regretted that the manner the previous administration handled the case of the slain terrorist gang leader, Terwase Akwaza aka Gana has eroded their confidence in government but assured that government was building confidence and trust in the bandits so as to draw them out of forest and embrace peace.

The security adviser further said that government was already involving traditional rulers to gain the trust of the bandits.

Har said, “What we are doing now is to build back the confidence in these guys (bandits). We are asking them to come out.

“We are talking to them; we are engaging them. We have told them that what they are doing is destroying their community; it’s destroying our economy, it’s making the society look ugly and it’s giving the state a bad image.

“So, we are going to build back the confidence in them, using the traditional institutions. In a very short while, you will see results.

“We are talking to the bandits and asking them to calm down. I will refer you to the ‘Gana’ (Terwase Akwaza), era which was erroneously done.

“So, these bandits are having doubts but we have a governor who is sincere and honest and willing to extend hands of fellowship to everyone.

“The fact that things were done wrongly yesterday (before now), does not mean that things will be continually done wrongly. We are telling them to trust this government as well as security agencies who are committed to a peaceful kinetic approach.”

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