Group of the defects alia to reduce insecurity in Benue

Benue Advocacy Network (Ban) on Friday criticized the governor Hyacinth alia for having minimized the severity of hosiciness in Benue’s state, which led to thousands of deaths and displaces of the communities.

The group, led by its president Bem Ortese, who turned to a press conference in Makurdi, called the governor Hyacinth Alia for having made statements not proven during a media chat with a television station on Thursday.

The group accused the governor of self-cornering and avoiding key issues that affect the state.

The group has questioned the governor’s reference to the Ecowas protocol as justification for the actions of the nomadic shepherds who led to the displaced people of the communities in 19 areas of the local government of the State.

They expressed disappointment for the governor’s inability to explain why he abandoned the prohibition of the open grazing and the law on the institution of the 2017 Ranch, which was effective in facing the threat of the shepherds.

Ban also criticized the statement of the governor that he did not have data on internal displaced people (IDP), stating that the previous government had made detailed documentation of IDP in various fields.

The group questioned the governor’s claims on the financial situation of the state, citing inconsistencies in the figures presented.

Ban contested the governor’s request to grant the autonomy of the local government, stating that the presidents of the local government currently do not have access to their funds.

“Ban asks the governor to publish monthly allocations received from the Federation account since May 2023 and to provide responsibility for how Benue’s funds are spent.

“We want the governor to reveal the state’s wage bill and publish a list of” ghost workers “removed from the state government payroll and we want him to explain the attacks supported by the communities and his plans to end these murders”.

The group also requires the governor to publish the details of the contracts assigned to demonstrate that he has not been assigned in serious violation of the right trial.