From Joseph Uchenna, in Makurdi
Thousands of youths in Makurdi, Benue State capital on Sunday, defied a ban placed by Governor Hyacinth Alia to protest the continued brutal killing by criminal bandits suspected to be herdsmen on indigenes.
The protest which held at the Wurukum Roundabout followed the killing of unconfirmed over 200 persons in Yelwata, a border town between Benue and Nasarawa state.
Heavy security including the use of Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC and Police helicopter were deployed during the protest. This is just as Policemen threw tear gas canisters at the protesters to disperse them.
However, the youths who carried leaves and placards which read, ‘Stop the killings’, ‘Benue is bleeding’, remained resolute as they blocked the Federal highway for over 6 hours.
During the protest, the State Commissioner of Police Ifeanyi Enemari who tried hard to address the protesters, was turned down as the youths chanted, ‘CP go to Yelwata’. Same treatment was meted to the State Deputy Governor Sam Ode as they did not allow him to Speak, demanding instead to see the Governor.
Speaking to newsmen at the scene of the protest, CP Enemari said the Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun has taken the security of Benue State as his top priority, adding that Special Forces have already arrived the State while more are been expected
He said, “all the Special Forces are intelligence forces, they will go non matter where the bandits are and get them.
“The ones you see here on ground just arrived last night. The previous sets have been deployed to Naka, Apa, Agatu, Daudu and Yelewata. We are in control of the situation, so I’m assuring all citizens of the State that we are in control. All the security agencies are with us on this. We have already made some arrests.
“The Governor has already given us all the necessary support. All the logistics, every support we need and we are going to do it just be patient.
“What you see happening in Yelwata yesterday is because we have taken over Apa, Gwer West and moving seriously into Agatu. They just want to do something to show that they are in control while they are not and will never be.
“Whatever is paining you is paining us more. We are here to protect lives and property. We have security everywhere now, even in Yelwata there are tactical teams in the bush even before the attack. Give the special forces and tactical teams a room to work. If you prolong your stay here you are giving the enemies more time to plan. We have intelligence reports of their movement and we are blocking them and you will see the end result”.
