Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia has claimed that the influx of herdsmen into Benue State was a result of the invitation by some Benue indigenes to Fulani herdsmen in Niger Republic to come and graze in the state.
Governor Alia stated this on Sunday after a Mass at the Chapel of Grace in the Government House, Makurdi while reacting to the large influx of herders into Benue State.
He said his administration would not tolerate attempts from certain quarters to destabilize and cause a breach of peace in the state and vowed to resist efforts to frustrate his administration.
In a statement by his Principal Special Assistant on Print Media, Donald Kumun, the Governor expressed sadness over plans by some Benue citizens to destabilize the state.
He said, “I’m quite saddened to speak about what some fellow Benue citizens are doing.
“What they are planting, planning, and executing which is not in favour of the state.
“The security report has revealed that some Benue indigenes have gone out of their way to invite herdsmen all the way from Niger Republic to troop into Benue State.
“All in the name of bringing down this administration and this is unacceptable but the security agents are doing their work.
“Security apparatuses are doing their work and those who would be found guilty of this will not go unpunished.
“This is not the Benue we prayed for. Electioneering period is over and now is governance.”
He appealed to the people to remain calm, saying that the security agencies are ready to ensure the safety of all and sundry.
“Please if you cannot join hands with this administration to improve the state, to bring development to the state, where everyone has a sense of belonging, please leave the state.
“The influx of herders will not harm anyone but they will return gradually to where they have come from.
“Mischief makers who wrote a letter inviting herders to come to Benue State will be disappointed.
“I stand on the platform of new Benue where development of both human and infrastructure development is possible,” Alia stated.
He thanked his Spiritual Director and Chaplaincy of Chapel of Grace, Government House Makurdi, Rev. Clement Ugo and the people for always supporting his administration through prayers and charged everyone to continue to stand by him and the administration of President Tinubu.
