Lawmaker gives reasons for incessant attacks on Benue communities

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Constituency Outreach, Dickson Tarkighir, who represents Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency of Benue State, has blamed the frosty relationship between Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia and Abuja politicians from the state for the incessant attacks on Benue communities.

Tarkighir explained this during an interview with The Punch correspondent.

He said frosty relationship between federal lawmakers from the state and Governor Alia stemmed largely from the governor’s handling of crisis situations.

When asked if he thinks the governor could have averted the Yelewata attack, he said, “After the attack, we heard that the governor had information two weeks earlier that Yelwata would be attacked, yet he did nothing. That is my concern. We have security challenges, and we need the governor to show leadership. Previous governors held security meetings in Yelwata more than five times with their counterparts in Nasarawa State, where these herders come from.”

He stated that Governor Alia had never considered it necessary to hold such a meeting, invite their people in Nasarawa, or even visit Yelwata.

He lamented that the security situation in Benue had overwhelmed the governor, which he described as unfortunate.

According to him, no governor in the history of Benue State had received the level of resources that the current administration had got in just two years.

He argued that if the intention was to arm community groups, then the government should go ahead, but it should first clear the land since they were at risk of attacks.

He explained that once the land was cleared and security personnel were stationed there, there would be no grass left for cattle to graze, which would discourage herders from coming.

Unfortunately, he added, the governor had completely ignored them.