Insecurity: Benue government tasks Security agents to rid State of criminal elements

Benue State government on Thursday condemned the gruesome murder of Dr. Terkula Suswam on Tuesday night at Anyiin, headquarters of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The State government has also tasked security agents to rid Sankera area and other parts of the State of criminals.

The resolution was taken at the Benue State Security Council meeting which was presided by Governor Samuel Ortom at Benue Peoples House, Makurdi.

In a statement which was made available to CAPITAL POST by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Terver Akase reads:

“Council condemned the gruesome murder of one of Benue’s illustrious sons, Dr. Terkula Suswam. Consequently, Council declared a clampdown on criminal elements in Sankera and other flash points.

“As follow-up to the last Security Council Meeting which banned the use of motorcycles in Katsina-Ala and Ukum Local Government Areas as well as the curfew imposed on the two local government areas, Council reviewed the situation and extended the curfew to cover Logo LGA where Dr Suswam was killed.

“The curfew in the entire Sankera area will now be in force from 6pm to 6am.

“Council also placed a bounty of N5 million for anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of killers of Dr Terkula Suswam.

“Council also acknowledged the appreciation of Sankera people regarding the ban on motorcycles. It further acknowledged the people’s complaints that criminals now use the Toyota car popularly called ‘duck nyash’ to carry out their nefarious activities including the gunmen who killed Dr Terkura Suswam.

“Consequently, Council resolved to ban the use of the ‘duck nyash’ Toyota vehicle in all parts of Sankera.

“Council directed security operatives to arrest anyone using the banned car and motorcycle operating within Sankera axis.

“Council decided that commercial vehicles operating in the entire Sankera must update their papers to authenticate their ownership. Similarly, all commercial vehicles must load in motor parks henceforth. Council chairmen were also directed to liaise with the National Union of Road Transport Workers, security agencies and vigilante to enforce the directive.

“To prevent any case of attack on schools in the state, Council took the proactive step of directing the Ministry of Education to sensitize schools on security consciousness. The sensitization is to begin with schools in border communities of the state.

“Traditional rulers and the local government chairmen were also mandated to ensure adequate sensitization of people to be security conscious.

“Council also constituted a Committee to monitor the sensitization of schools and the general public. The committee is headed by the Security Adviser to the Governor and has as members, heads of all security agencies, Commissioner for Education and his team, Special Adviser Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs as well as all the local government chairmen in the state.

“Security agencies were asked to embark on surveillance in strategic places.

“Local Government Chairmen, Traditional Rulers, Vigilante group and Livestock Guards were asked to support security agencies to ensure effective enforcement of the Security Council resolutions”, the statement concluded.