The Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State for the 2027 election, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, has expressed deep grief and outrage over the latest attacks by suspected armed herdsmen on communities in Ugboju District of Otukpo Local Government Area, which reportedly claimed the lives of at least 15 innocent persons and left several others with varying degrees of injuries.
Chief Aondoakaa describes the attacks on Efeyi-Ugboju, Ipom-Ugboju and neighbouring communities as barbaric, inhuman and unacceptable, saying the continuous bloodshed in Benue State has become a national emergency that requires urgent and decisive intervention, A statement by James Ian, the Media Assistant to Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, said.
He extends his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, prays for the quick recovery of those receiving treatment, and commiserates with the entire people of Otukpo over the tragic loss of lives and destruction caused by the attackers.
The PDP governorship candidate calls on the government and all security agencies to immediately deploy adequate personnel to the affected communities, intensify intelligence gathering, track down the perpetrators and their sponsors, and ensure that they are arrested and prosecuted without delay. According to him, the recurring cycle of attacks followed by routine condemnations has failed to deter the criminals and can no longer be accepted as the normal response to mass killings.
Chief Aondoakaa also expresses serious concern over what he describes as the disturbing silence and seeming inaction of the Benue State Government in the face of the recurring killings across the state.
He states that at a time when innocent people are being murdered on their ancestral lands, the people expect visible leadership, empathy, prompt action and effective coordination of security efforts, not silence or a passive response that creates the impression that government has resigned itself to the continuous loss of lives.
According to him, the primary constitutional responsibility of every government is the security and welfare of the people, stressing that no administration should be comfortable while communities are repeatedly invaded, families displaced and farmers prevented from accessing their means of livelihood.
Chief Aondoakaa maintained that Benue urgently requires a comprehensive and proactive security strategy driven by intelligence, rapid response, collaboration with security agencies, community participation and the political will to confront the menace decisively.
He reiterated his conviction that the protection of lives and property must remain the foremost priority of government, adding that no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere where communities live under constant fear of violent attacks.
Chief Aondoakaa prays for the peaceful repose of the souls of those who lost their lives, comfort for their families, and divine healing for the injured.
