Gemade tasks FG on persistent killings in Benue

THE Senator representing Benue North East Senatorial District, , yesterday insisted that unless the unbridled killings going on in parts of Benue State is urgently tackled, the state and her people will be the worse for it.

Gemade said that the emerging phenomenon of unrestrained killings in the state has taken a worrisome dimension that must be checked in the overall interest of the state.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker who expressed his concern over the dastardly act in Abuja said that the people of the state must be made to live their normal lives without the fear of being killed by insurgents.

He added that unless immediate action is taken to stop the unhealthy situation, it might degenerate and distort the living standard of the people of the state.

Gemade had last week viewed with disgust and pain, the persistent gruesome murders being perpetrated by mindless gun totting urchins on innocent, defenceless and law-abiding citizens of Benue State, particularly in Benue North East Senatorial District.

Gemade condemned strongly the killing of two former legislators of the Benue State House of Assembly, namely, Atoza Ihindan, who was brutally killed under bizarre circumstances on 17th July 2015 in his country home in Katsina-Ala. The lawmaker also condemned the killing of Douglas Begha, “who was also gruesomely murdered on August 10th, 2015, a few weeks after Atoza Ihindan’s assassination, and the killing of his personal driver under the same circumstances.”

Gemade added that, “if this evil and dastardly acts are not checked, the situation may worsen and there would be chaos, and this will seriously disturb the peaceful life of the people.”

He also said that, “these dare devil acts must be nipped in the bud, to avoid a sharp decline in socio-economic activities, as Benue State may soon become a haven for senseless and mindless banditry by criminals.”

The senator, however, commended Governor Samuel Ortom’s administration for initiating an amnesty programme to retrieve large cache of arms and ammunitions unlawfully acquired by some citizens.

He advised all to key into the initiative, so as to lead good and exemplary lives, and allow the society to thrive on peace, freedom of movement, freedom of association and right to life. He commiserated with the families of Ihindan, Begha, and the families of all other victims and prayed God to give them fortitude to bear the losses.