The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Benue State has knocked Governor Hyacinth Alia for the escalating insecurity in the state.
The PDP said criminal elements are leveraging the incompetence of the governor to carry out their nefarious activities.
This was contained in a statement distributed to journalists on Monday in Makurdi by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Bemgba Iortyom.
In the statement, Iortyom said, “PDP notes with much sadness that, as a consequence, no day passes in Benue currently without one act of terror or another against the people by either Fulani herdsmen or bandits, resulting in deaths, destruction, hunger and deepening impoverishment of ordinary citizens.
“Last night alone, there were reports of Fulani herdsmen having blocked the Makurdi – Naka Road forcing motorists to avoid it while bandits are reported to have maintained an all-night-long spell of terror in parts of the Sankera axis.
“After over four months in office, Governor Alia is yet to appoint a Security Adviser and the signs are evident of incompetence and an absence of professionalism in the handling of security issues under his administration
“We recall that the governor had openly confessed to knowing and having a pact with bandits in the state whom he fondly referred to as “my brothers in the bush”.
He further said: “Equally a number of umbrella groups of Fulani herdsmen on several occasions claimed having rendered support to his election efforts, in return for his pledge to relax anti-open grazing restrictions against them in the state.
“PDP charges Governor Alia to put the lives of Benue people above whatever such pacts he must have had with any group of terrorists by coming out of his lethargy to move decisively against them.
“The blanket of silence being cast over the insecurity by the governor coupled with his lethargy and inaction must be torn off as it directly emboldens the terrorists and portends nothing but doom for the state and her people.”