*Council Chairman denies, says it’s false alarm
From Joseph Uchenna, in Makurdi
The Deputy Speaker of Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Lami Danladi Ogenyi, has raised alarm over an illegal detention cell in her Constituency of Ado Local Government area of the State.
The Deputy Speaker who raised the alarm while speaking with Journalists in Makurdi, accused the Council Chairman, Sunday Oche, of being behind the operation of the illegal cell using his political supporters in the guise of Ezza Ezekuna patriotic front.
She alleged that the group has been going from one council ward to another arresting persons illegally and collecting ransom of over 200,000 Naira.
She said the victims are usually taken to a hideout in a forest where they were tortured with most of them sustaining machete cuts on their body.
According to her, “one of the victims Mrs Chinyere Ukoro was detained, tortured and raped serially. Even during her menstrual cycle, they were raping her.
“Another victim was captured, beaten to death in the presence of some chiefs and buried in a shallow grave.
“Following outcry, Mrs Ukoro was released alongside several victims.
“I received a lot of petitions from my constituents addressed to the Department of State Services, DSS and the Inspector-General of Police, IGP.
“I also raised a motion on the floor of the House calling for the suspension of the chairman and an investigation to be carried out on the issue, as well as offence of financial mismanagement.
“Part of the motion entitled Motion calling the immediate suspension of the Chairman of Ado Local Government Council, Hon Sunday Oche from Office for 6 months for using his office to perpetuate criminal in the area
“That the House recommends the immediate suspension of Hon Sunday Oche and his Deputy, Hon. Mrs. Jane Ikesse from office for six months to allow for investigation without any interference.
“That the House set up an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the activities of the Chairman and his Deputy and if found wanting, they should be recommended for impeachment by the Local Government Legislative Council (Councillors),
“That within the period of their suspension, the Leader of Ado Local government Legislative Council should take over the affairs of the LGC in acting capacity.
“That all the network providers be directed to stop further payments to any private bank account other than the Local Government bank account with UBA branch in Igumale. They should also be ready to provide evidence of any previous payments to any bank accounts.
“That the Police in Ado Division should immediately re-arrest those already released on the orders of Hon Sunday Oche (Chairman Ado LGA), for immediate arraignment in Court for criminal charges.
“One of the victims, Mrs Angela Eze while narrating her ordeal in the hands of the captors said, “on the fateful day, a group of three persons storm their house, abducted her husband and took him to an indisposed destination.
“The next day, I went and reported the incident to the chief of the community demanding the whereabouts of her husband. But the chief told her go as it is not a matter to be discussed with a woman. The following day, I saw the lifeless body of my husband in the compound buried in a shallow grave.
“When I raised alarm over what happened to my husband, the Ezza Ezekuma Benue Development Association, EEBDA warned her sternly to stop or else, same treatment would be meted to her.
“I am calling on the appropriate authorities to intervene and the bring the killers of my husband book.”
A splinter group of the Ezza Ezekuma Patriotic Front has decried the high rate of insecurity in their community, saying that the situation has overwhelmed the council Chairman hence, the incessant kidnapping, raping and maiming of innocent persons especially women and children.
They have therefore called on the Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia to deploy adequate conventional security to forestall further breakdown of law and order in the community.
Meanwhile, the Council Chairman Sunday Oche has outrightly denied the allegation as false aimed at discrediting and tarnishing his administration and person.
The Chairman who spoke to journalists in Makurdi on Wednesday dismissed the allegation, saying that there was no such group or any detention cell in his council.
Oche who confirmed that a group of people in Ezza had petitioned the IG and DSS said that the petition was forwarded to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 4, in Makurdi.
“Some chiefs were arrested in connection to the petition at Zone 4, Makurdi but after investigation they were released on Tuesday.
Oche also confirmed that the State Assembly had invited him for investigation on the matter as well as on financial impropriety, claiming that the committee did not find him wanting.
He further said that over 18 petitions had been written against him since his assumption of office in October, 2024.
“See, I just received another petition again now,” he said.
