Following the attack on a Catholic school in Makurdi, Tuesday night, a group known as ‘Defenders of Democracy’, has called on President Bola Tinubu to quickly intervene in the security situation in Benue State to prevent state from being overrun by the armed invaders.
Some gunmen had attacked Fr. Angus Frazer Memorial High School located in Adeke, a suburb of Makurdi Tuesday night and injured the security guard.
Consequently, the Director of Social Communications, Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Very Revd Fr Moses Iorapuu, who confirmed the attack said that school had been shut down to enable the authorities to investigate the matter.
In an open letter to President Tinubu, titled ‘Before Herders Overrun Makurdi’, signed by its President, Amos Uchiv, a copy made available to journalists in Makurdi on Thursday, blamed the state Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, for doing nothing to curb the attacks.
The group said that Governor Alia’s alleged inaction and silence have emboldened the armed herders who feel unchallenged to carry out more deadly attacks on innocent people.
The statement read in parts, “As a concerned group of citizens of this country and indigenes of Benue State in particular, we have watched with heavy hearts the escalating humanitarian crisis in the state, where armed herders have been ruthlessly attacking and killing innocent people.
“Yesterday’s (Tuesday ) attack on Fr. Angus Frazer Memorial High School in Makurdi which forced the Catholic Church authorities to announce the closure of the school is a stark reminder of the grave situation that has befallen our beloved state, Benue.
“Mr President, we are deeply worried over the fate of our people who live in the border areas and communities prone to these attacks by herders.
“Our fear is made worse by the apparent silence of the state Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia whose primary responsibility it is to protect the lives and property of the people. His Excellency Governor Alia does not seem to be disturbed by what is happening in our state. The Governor is strangely silent in the face of the grave situation.
“Mr President, it is heartbreaking to witness so many people displaced from their ancestral lands, living in fear and uncertainty, due to the continuous onslaught by the armed invaders who have vowed to take over our lands and occupy.
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“The fact that the attackers are now coming closer to the extent of attacking a popular school right in Makurdi, the state capital means that death is knocking at our doors if nothing is done urgently.
“We appeal to Your Excellency Mr President to intervene urgently and prevent Benue State from being overrun by armed assailants.”
Meanwhile, the state government has stated that the governor is not resting on his oars to provide adequate security to the people of the state.
The state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Matthew Abo, who spoke to our correspondent on the phone, said that the governor had consistently connected with the federal government to have more security operatives deployed to the state.
Abo said, “As I talk to you now, the Chief of Army Staff is here in the state, he came yesterday (Wednesday) in respect of security issues in the state
“The governor is making sure that security is doing their work that is why he is connecting with the federal government to ensure that security operatives are deployed to the state to curb insecurity.
“If there are skirmishes of insecurity here and there, the governor is trying as much as possible to curb it, though, it’s not something that can be eradicated completely but within time everything will be okay.
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