July 03, (THEWILL) – Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has declared a 24-hour curfew on Ukum Local Government Area with effect from 3pm on Wednesday.
This followed the grave security situation in the LGA which led to the wanton destruction of property, leading to instability in the area.
It was gathered that the irate youth were protesting the killing of about six residents at Borikyo community in Ukum Local Government Area by suspected herdsmen without the government commenting on the matter.
The Governor, through his Deputy, Dr. Sam Ode, therefore, directed that a curfew be imposed on Ukum Local Government Area and its environs beginning from 3pm on Wednesday, July 3 to July 4, 2024.
“The curfew shall be observed from 6pm to 6am beginning from tomorrow 4th of July 2024 until further notice,” he added.
A statement signed by the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication, Mr. Solomon Iorpev, quoted the Governor as calling for calm as security operatives have been deployed in the area to keep the peace in Ukum in particular and the Sankera region at large.
The youths, in the course of the protest, were alleged to have blocked the highway, burning tyres and part of Ukum local Government Secretariat and the school belonging to the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Rt. Honourable Paul Biam, among others.
The Police Public Relations Officer for Benue State Command, SP Sewuese Anene, could not be reached to confirm the incident as text messages sent to her line were not returned at the time of filing this report.
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