Benue group urges FG to investigate killings, says state under siege - The Sun Nigeria
From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Benue Democratic Ambassadors is a coalition of concerned sons and daughters of Benue, drawn from diverse political affiliations, ethnic groups, and professional backgrounds.
National President of BEDA Daniel Pila, who made this call while addressing a press conference in Makurdi on Thursday, May 29, 2025, said Benue is under siege as 20 out of its 23 Local Government have been overran by terrorists herdsmen.
Pila who recalled the recent attacks on Aondona, the where over 20 people were murdered in cold, including women and children, urged the federal government to investigate the killings in the state particularly, the attack on the Catholic priest, Rev Fr Atongo and the body of Christ.
According to the group “Benue is under siege as no place is safe in the state including Makurdi, the capital city.
“From Otukpo to Agatu, Gwer-West to Kwande, Makurdi to Ukum, Gwer-East to Katsina-Ala, Guma to Logo, nowhere is safe as herdsmen have taken over at least 20 out of the 23 local governments that Benue has.
“The Monday attack on Aondona village is most disturbing; first, Aondona is close to Raav, one of the places the Governor is proposing to establish a ranch and secondly because Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi is from there.
“Recall that Bishop Anagbe recently addressed the whole world on the spate of killing of Christians in Nigeria particularly central Nigeria, an address many people were not comfortable with and publicly threatened him.
“We call on the federal government to investigate the killings in Benue most especially, the attack on the Catholic priest, Rev Fr Atongo and the body of Christ.”
The group which acknowledged the efforts of the Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia in the prompt payment of salaries, pensions and gratuity as at when due, however, noted that salary payment under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu- led presidency is not an achievement as no state in the country is still struggling to pay salaries, overheads, pensions and gratuity.
They urged the state governor to concentrated in delivering his campaign promises in the area of agriculture, education, as well as completion of road projects initiated by his administration saying two years after, many of them are still lying undone.
