Governor of Benue State Hyacinth Alia, has directed security agencies to launch immediate operations to dislodge suspected armed herdsmen camps operating in forested areas across the state.
The directive, issued on Tuesday, by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tersoo Kula, follows a fresh wave of deadly attacks in parts of Apa and Otukpo local government areas, including Edikwu-Ankpali, Ikobi, Adija and Upu communities, where several lives were reportedly lost.
Alia described the attacks as brutal and unacceptable, noting that the perpetrators have continued to exploit remote forest locations in Apa, Otukpo and Gwer-West as operational bases for launching assaults on innocent residents.
He said the renewed violence necessitated a decisive and coordinated response, stressing that the criminal elements must be flushed out without delay.
The governor reaffirmed that safeguarding lives and property remains the primary responsibility of his administration, adding that a sustained, intelligence-driven crackdown has been ordered to neutralise threats and restore confidence among affected communities.
He further assured that the state government is working closely with federal security agencies to ensure lasting peace, vowing that efforts would not relent until normalcy is fully restored.
Alia urged residents to remain vigilant and support security operatives with credible information to aid ongoing operations.
He also commiserated with families of victims of the recent attacks, reiterating his administration’s commitment to confronting insecurity and making the state safe for all.