...Orders Chiefs To Produce The Culprits In 7 Days
Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, the Governor of Benue State has condemned the attack on members of the Cow Dealers Cooperative Society, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area (LGA), chapter by criminals operating around the axis of Kwande LGA.
The Governor has accordingly, ordered traditional rulers around the Nyihemba community of Kwande LGA of the state, where the attack took place to fish out perpetrators of the act within the next seven days.
It was learnt that the attack took place at Nyihemba, when the truck conveying cattle and bags of rice among other goods toppled in the area, consequently leading to the ugly incident.
The Governor condemned the act, which he described as criminal during a peace meeting, at Jato-Aka Council hall on Friday, where a delegation of the State Government as well as other relevant stakeholders met to investigate issues surrounding the attack.
Other stakeholders at the meeting were drawn from across the local government area as well as representative of the Cattle dealers association.
Governor Alia who had expressed displeasure over the incident, subsequently directed that traditional rulers who are custodians of the communities, should produce the criminals believed to be youths within the communities, adding that they have
7 days within which to produce perpetrators of the act.
Also speaking at the occasion, Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Hon Fidelis Unongo who is from the area, expressed regrets that such an act was emanating in a region that was already benefiting enormously from the Governor’s innovative administration.
In a remark, the Secretary, Cow Dealers Cooperative Society, Katsina-Ala local government Chapter, in the state, Alh. Muniru Bawa, explained that two of his were killed by the bandits, while eleven others were still missing.
The Mue-Ter, the traditional ruler of the area, Chief Ichongo Baver, confirmed the incident, observing that the community was deeply disturbed by the incident and was already working with the local security agencies on to unravel the identify a the perpetrators.
While he noted that the action of the youths was shameful, he insisted that they acted out of order, adding that he was hopeful that the culprits would be identified, arrested and handed over to the security agencies as directed by the Governor.
