By Sam Tyav, Makurdi
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has condemned in strong terms the killing of two innocent citizens at Agan area of Makurdi, the state capital, by those he described as c riminals.
The murders came in the wake of the killing of over 200 persons by armed herdsmen at Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area (LGA) of the state about a fortnight ago.
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Tersoo Kula, the governor described the killing of the two Kano indigenes as barbaric and unacceptable, insisting that the perpetrators must be fished out and brought to justice with immediate effect.
According to the governor’s spokesman, already five criminals have been swiftly apprehended in Makurdi by the State Police Command in connection with the incident following the Governor’s earlier directives to the Commissioner of Police and other relevant security operatives to ensure that criminals who committed the heinous crime were arrested.
The governor, the statement added, was “deeply saddened by the deaths of two men identified as indigenes of Kano State who were travelling through the state but were brutally attacked and murdered by criminals.”
The governor stressed that “Benue people are known for their hospitality and peaceful disposition. We cannot allow some criminal elements to tarnish our image and create a contrary image for our people. These criminals MUST be fished out immediately and made to face the full wrath of the law.”
Kula noted that Gov. Alia has extended his heartfelt condolences to his Kano State counterpart, Abba Kabir Yusuf, over the tragic and regrettable loss of the two, pointing out that both governors spoke closely earlier yesterday over the unfortunate incident.
Gov. Alia, who appealed for calm, assured the people of Kano State that justice would be served.
