Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue, said his administration would set up a commission of inquiry to probe the recent security breach in UKum Local Government Area of the state.
Alia, who disclosed this during a State broadcast on Friday in Makurdi, said that his administration had exhausted its patience with bandits in the State.
According to reports, armed men had on Tuesday night attacked Ayati village in Ukum local government, killing six persons.
The killings led to a peaceful protest in Zaki-Biam on Wednesday, giving opportunity to bandits who hijacked and caused unimaginable destruction of public and private property.
He said full military action has been declared to tackle the menace of armed bandits terrorising the Sankera axis of the state.
The governor said that more actions would be taken to demonstrate his commitment to bring retrogressive activities in the area to a total end.
He said he would no longer guarantee the olive branch he has several times extended to them in the past.
Alia, who expressed sadness over the entire incident, said he had no choice but to declare a curfew in the area.
He said that his administration would not sit back and allow anyone or a group to frustrate the peace of the State and destabilise his government.
The governor described the killings as senseless and extended his sympathies to the families of the victims of the attack, assuring them that he had listened to their cries.
“I assure you that I have listened. The mayhem caused by these heinous acts of violence has not gone unnoticed, and I stand with you in condemning these atrocities,”he said.
He said his deputy, Mr Sam Ode, had already visited Ukum for an on-the-spot assessment of the scenes of destruction.
Alia said that the destruction of public property would compound the challenges, and divert resources that would have been used to address the root causes of the crisis.
“Let me emphasise that while we empathise with the pain and frustration felt, we must channel our energies towards constructive actions,”he said.
The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all Benue residents.
He said efforts have been intensified in collaboration with security agencies, to bring the perpetrators of violent and criminal acts in the state to justice.
The governor appealed to the good people of Sankera and its environs to remain calm and exercise restrain
He urged them to work together with his government to rebuild and restore peace in their communities, promising to address their concerns with urgency and diligence.
Alia assured the entire people of the state that in spite of the challenges, development remains at the forefront of his administration’s agenda.